December 12, 2007

China's nuclear program may be a harbinger of things to come in the industry. That nation, which now uses coal to fuel two-thirds of its electric generation, says that its eventual goal is to obtain a third of its power from nuclear energy.

Mainland China has eleven nuclear power reactors in commercial operation -- six of which it has brought on line since 2002, five currently under construction and several others in the works. The aggressive build-out is a response to its reliance on coal and the clean air issues it is creating there. Without change, it will assuredly impact its bustling economy. Unlike western nations, China is unfettered politically with respect to forging ahead with its nuclear expansion. Its experience is therefore going to weigh heavily on the path that developed nations will take.

December 10, 2007

When CenterPoint Energy invested in energy efficiency, it chose a technology with a standard communication feature to allow its meters to talk with any programmable household device. CenterPoint is working with the Zigbee Alliance and other stakeholders to create the standard for wireless communication between utility companies and common household features.

Energy efficiency is becoming big business. In fact, some state regulators and their respective utilities are working together to empower customers to get them to become more energy aware. Demand response is among the leading methods -- a technology that allows utilities to signal customers to adjust their energy use during the peak energy time periods. The technologies to do so, however, vary from vendor to vendor.

December 7, 2007

Liquefied natural gas could overflow with prosperity. But, real risks are present.

Stranded gas found in pockets around the world can be frozen, transported and then re-gasified in areas where natural gas shortfalls persist. Right now, that LNG provides about 2.8 percent of this nation's natural gas, a figure that the U.S. Department of Energy is predicting to increase to 16 percent by 2030.

December 5, 2007

Water resources across the Southeast are being re-evaluated as an historic drought reigns over the region. Because utilities use more fresh water than any other entity, they are coming under increasing scrutiny.

The problem is that droughts across the United States have decreased the pool of water now available to all concerns. Not only do utilities use it. So does big industry and small residential households. To compound the matter, the demand for electricity in this country is expected to rise by 2 percent a year over 20 years. Governments and businesses alike are now calling for concerted conservation efforts. Another approach being pushed is the development of new utility technologies that require less water.

December 3, 2007

Almost everyone is familiar with "Kyoto." But in due time, the name "Bali" will eclipse that 1997 global warming pact. While the Kyoto Protocol set the stage to curb greenhouse gas emissions through 2012, the next phase of negotiations will carry on until 2050. The initial discussions will begin this December in Bali, India.

The United Nations has set the stage, having just released its findings on climate change. The study, written by more than 2,500 scientists from around the globe who were appointed by their respective governments, is definitive in its determination that humans are causing rising temperatures that could lead to environmental devastation. It lays the blame on excessive use of fossil fuels by power plants and major industry.