As America focuses its attention on energy, it is important that Americans become aware of the severity of the issues currently facing the electric utility industry.

Will we have enough electricity to meet growing demands? 

The United States is expected to have a growth increase of 75 million by 2030. With subsequent growth and the growing use of electricity, consumers may need to rely on other resources such as coal, nuclear power, and natural gas.  But will we have that?  America has more coal reserves then any other nation, but because of high carbon-intensity coal plants, even the most advanced ones, are facing opposition.  As for nuclear power, which could help reduce carbon emissions, these plants are not expected to be up and running until after 2020, when we experience a population increase of 45 million in the United States.  The proposition of constructing new nuclear sites is also coming under fire by many groups that oppose new power plants. (Full story can be viewed here). Renewable energy is another option, but the energy supply cannot meet the electricity demand by 2020.  Renewables make up a small, but helpful percentage.  However, due to the economic boom in countries like China and India, current construction costs are rising and wait times can exceed two years.  Also, public opposition to project sites, such as offshore wind farms and farms on public land and laws such as North Carolina’s Ridge Law have stopped many renewable projects.

How will we develop technologies needed to meet our nation's climate and environmental goals? 

New clean coal technology must be explored.  With the United States possessing enough coal to keep the country running for two- hundred years, a way must be found for it to be used, and still be safe for the environment. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a distinct possibility, but even with significant investments in research and development, CCS will be not be available until 2020 at the earliest. Electric rates could triple by 2050 if the United States relies solely on natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency to meet capacity needs and does not invest in nuclear and coal technologies.

The map identifies the years when a region/sub region drops below target capacity margin levels required to meet peak demand using committed resources.

* Although the Southeast region of the U.S. does not show a date when resources drop below target capacity margins, the anticipated population boom in the Southeastern U.S. over the next decade will place a burden on the region's current capacity. There is also a great need for new transmission and overhaul of the existing transmission system.

How can America’s electric bill be kept affordable?

Americans are going to be paying more for electricity with the question being, how much more. Rates are being raised up to 29% in some areas of the United States, to deal not only with fuel prices, but also to refurbish an aging power grid.  The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) found based upon their analysis, that if the U.S. adopts carbon reduction goals and builds new nuclear power plants as well as new highly efficient coal, utility rate increase attributable to a climate strategy would average about 10 percent in real dollars. Electric rates would nearly triple by 2050, however, if the U.S. relies solely on natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency to meet capacity needs, and fails to invest in new nuclear and coal technologies.