\nthat backup generation requirements would be modest for a system based
\nlargely on solar and wind power, combined with efficiency,
\nhydroelectric power, and other renewable sources like landfill gas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Even <\/p>\n The study was published last week by the Maryland-based Institute for Energy and Environmental Research<\/a>, <\/p>\n Blackburn used hourly North Carolina <\/p>\n The <\/p>\n In the end, with those conditions met, Blackburn <\/p>\n “This <\/p>\n The study was released just days after a new poll<\/a> from Elon University in Elon, N.C. found overwhelming public support in <\/p>\n (This story originally appeared at Facing South<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Why pricing emissions is the least important policy<\/a><\/p>\n On rooftops worldwide, a solar water heating revolution<\/a><\/p>\n Using behavioral science to make smarter energy policy<\/a><\/p>\n
\nthough the wind does not blow nor the sun shine all the time, careful
\nmanagement, readily available storage and other renewable sources can
\nproduce nearly all the electricity North Carolinians consume,” said
\nauthor John Blackburn, professor emeritus of economics and former
\nchancellor at Duke University in Durham, N.C.. He’s also the author of
\nthe books “The Renewable Energy Alternative”<\/a> and “Solar in Florida.”<\/p>\n
\nwhose executive director, Arjun Makhijani, called it landmark research.
\n“North Carolina utilities and regulators and those in other states
\nshould take this template, refine it, and make a renewable electricity
\nfuture a reality,” he said.<\/p>\n
\nwind and solar data for a total of 123 days in the sample months of
\nJanuary, April, July, and October, with samples taken at three wind and
\nthree solar sites across the state. Solar and wind power generation
\nwere then scaled up to represent 80 percent—40 percent each—of average utility
\nloads for the sample months, with the rest coming from the existing
\nhydroelectric system (8 percent) and assumed biomass co-generation (12 percent).<\/p>\n
\nstudy figured in projected energy efficiency by assuming an annual
\nutility load of 90 billion kilowatt-hours, slightly less than the
\ncurrent 125 billion kWh load, and by calculating average hourly loads
\nfrom Duke Energy’s 2006 load profile with modifications to show some
\nreduction in summer and winter peaks due to more efficient buildings.
\nIt also assumed increased storage capacity from a smarter electrical
\ngrid.<\/p>\n
\ncalculated that the required auxiliary generation from conventional
\npower plants to fill in the gaps would amount to only 6 percent of the annual
\ntotal generation required to meet demand in North Carolina.<\/p>\n
\ngoes to the heart of the argument by power companies that have long
\ndismissed solar and wind as future technologies,” said Jim Warren,
\nexecutive director of the N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network<\/a>, a
\nDurham, N.C.-based nonprofit that provided research assistance to
\nBlackburn.<\/p>\n
\nNorth Carolina for developing the state’s renewable energy capacity.
\nNearly 80 percent of the poll’s respondents said they favor new wind energy
\nfacilities in the mountains or on the coast, while more than 83 percent favor
\nconstruction of solar facilities.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/a.rfihub.com\/eus.gif?eui=2223\"\/)
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"