Posted on 06/25/2015 1:07:53 PM PDT by thackney
The numerous pipeline projects already in the works are more than sufficient to handle the increased natural gas demands in the U.S., with a federal push to limit carbon emissions, according to a new report from the Advanced Energy Economy Institute that urges for more clean power solutions.
The new report attempts to counter claims by the North American Electric Reliability Corp. and other stakeholders that contend the nation’s increasing reliance on cheap natural gas for electricity will require more pipeline and power generation capacity. Such critics say the problems will be exacerbated and the nation’s grid reliability will suffer if the federal government’s proposed rule for reducing carbon emissions at existing power plants is finalized in August.
The AEE report claimed that the existing and planned natural gas infrastructure can handle the increased demand created by the so-called, federal Clean Power Plan, which would lead to the further reduced reliance on coal power. The report stated that natural gas pipeline expenditures would increase a maximum of 7 percent more than currently planned through 2030 and that such an amount can be accommodated through pending projects.
“With competition from renewable energy and energy efficiency, which are also cost effective, states are likely to adopt a diverse portfolio of measures for compliance rather than rely exclusively on increased natural gas generation,” said Malcolm Woolf, AEE senior vice president for policy and government affairs, in a prepared statement. “There is no reason to see natural gas pipeline capacity as a threat to electric system reliability as a result of (Clean Power Plan) implementation.”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule aims to reduce electricity sector carbon emissions 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Since 2005, coal’s share of total U.S. generation has dropped by 10 percent, while the natural gas share has increased by nearly the same amount. Total U.S. natural gas production has increased by more than 40 percent in the past 10 years.
In the past 10 years, the AEE study points out, capital spending on new natural gas pipelines in the United States totaled approximately $56 billion and the report contends that the same pace of growth is not needed.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the energy sector continued to push for new pipeline projects like the proposed $5 billion, 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline by Dominion Energy, Duke Energy and others to serve what they call rapidly increasing natural gas demand in Virginia and North Carolina.
Ed Hirs, professor of energy economics at the University of Houston, said pipeline growth is needed in order to spur the construction of more power plants. If not, northeastern cities like Boston will continue to pay Tokyo-level natural gas prices during peak demand. Likewise, people in states like Texas will pay more for electricity as well, he said.
“It should be a national priority to build the pipelines in order to meet the growing retirements of coal plants … and nuclear plants,” Hirs dais. “Then, utilities could begin building more gas-fired power plants with the confidence that steady supply is assured.”
Download of report available at:
Impacts of the Clean Power Plan on U.S. Natural Gas Markets and Pipeline Infrastructure
http://info.aee.net/impacts-of-clean-power-plan-on-us-natural-gas
In the event of shortages of pipeline during the coming ice age, all existing pipelines to the east coast should be shut off. The hot air of the climate experts there should be sufficient to keep everyone comfy.
There is no more debate. Rather, we can debate all we want, but we don’t have power. Nothing on our agenda is going to happen through the usual processes.
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