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EIA
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How much of the world's electricity supply is generated from wind and who are the leading generators?
Worldwide wind power generation exceeded 200 billion kilowatthours in 2008, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 18 million average households in the United States. Wind generation increased by about 25% from 2007 to 2008, and has more than tripled since 2003.
How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?
Americans used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), geothermal, wind, sun (solar), and biomass — to meet about 7% of our total energy needs in 2008.
What are greenhouse gases and how much are emitted by the United States?
Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun and warm the planet's surface. Of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, 87% are related to energy consumption. Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions in the United States have grown by about 1% per year. In 2005, about 21% of the world's total energy-related carbon dioxide was emitted by the United States.
What is the role of coal in the United States?
Due to its relatively low cost and abundance, coal is used to generate about half of the electricity consumed in the United States. Coal is the largest domestically-produced source of energy. Coal use, however, results in higher amounts of carbon dioxide per unit of energy than the use of oil or natural gas.
What is a cap-and-trade program and how does it work?
A cap-and-trade program is designed to reduce emissions of a pollutant by placing a limit (or cap) on the total amount of emissions. The cap is implemented through a system of allowances that can be traded to minimize costs to affected sources. Cap-and-trade programs for greenhouse gas emissions would increase the costs of using fossil fuels.
What is the status of the U.S. nuclear industry?
There are currently 104 commercial nuclear reactors at 65 nuclear power plants in 31 States. Since 1990, the share of the Nation's total electricity supply provided by nuclear power generation has averaged about 20%, with the level of nuclear generation growing at roughly the same rate as overall electricity use. Between 1985 and 1996, 34 new reactors were placed in service. In addition, nuclear generation has increased as a result of higher utilization of existing capacity and from technical modifications to increase nuclear plant capacity (expressed in megawatts). In response to incentives provided by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, nuclear power output is expected to grow, but at a slightly lower rate than total electricity generation.
How can we compare or add up our energy consumption?
To compare or aggregate energy consumption across different energy sources like oil, natural gas, and electricity, we must use a common unit of measure. This is similar to calculating your food energy intake by adding up the calories in whatever you eat.
What role does liquefied natural gas (LNG) play as an energy source for the United States?
On an annual basis from 2003 to 2008, the United States imported between 13% and 16% of its natural gas requirements. Most of these imports were in gaseous form delivered by pipeline from Canada. However, natural gas imports have also come in liquid form from overseas. Between 1% and 3% of U.S. demand for natural gas was met by LNG from 2003 to 2008.
How dependent are we on foreign oil?
The United States imported about 57% of the petroleum,1 which includes crude oil and refined petroleum products, that we consumed during 2008. Nearly half of these imports came from the Western Hemisphere. Our dependence on foreign petroleum is expected to decline in the next two decades.
What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?
The major energy sources in the United States are petroleum (oil), natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy. The major users are residential and commercial buildings, industry, transportation, and electric power generation. The pattern of fuel use varies widely by sector. For example, oil provides 95% of the energy used for transportation, but only 1% of the energy used to generate electric power. Understanding the relationships between the different energy sources and their uses provides insights into many important energy issues.
What are renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and how do they affect generation of electricity from renewable sources?
Renewable portfolio standards are policies designed to increase electricity generation from renewable resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. Many States have their own renewable portfolio standards, although currently there is no program at the National level. States with renewable portfolio programs have seen an increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable fuels.
What is the electric power grid, and what are some challenges it faces?
The grid of electric power lines has evolved into three large interconnected systems that move electricity around the country. Standards have been developed by the electric power industry to ensure coordination for the linked operations. Challenges facing the power grid include getting approval for corridors of land for new transmission lines within States or that cross multiple States, and the financing and constructing of new transmission lines to assure continued reliability of our electricity supply.
Who are the major players supplying the world oil market?
Governments of oil-rich countries have a major influence on the world supply of oil through ownership of national oil companies and, for some governments, their membership in OPEC.
How much does the Federal Government spend on energy-specific subsidies and support?
The Federal Government spent an estimated $16.6 billion in energy-specific subsidies and support programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. Energy-specific subsidies have more than doubled since FY 1999.
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FT.com
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CKI snaps up EDF Energy Networks
Asia's wealthiest man is to buy the UK electricity distribution business of France's EDF for £5.8bn in what is set to be the biggest European investment by Hong Kong companies on record
Moratorium on drilling to hit Chevron output
Chevron said that the moratorium on deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico following the leak from the Deepwater Horizon well had significantly affected its exploration programme and would lead to lost production this year
Dudley visit to mend fences with TNK-BP
Bob Dudley, BP's incoming chief executive, will fly to Moscow to meet shareholders in its Russian joint venture TNK-BP, a visit that will underscore a thawing in relations between the two companies
Vale boosted by iron ore pricing overhaul
A doubling in the price of the metal after a shift to quarterly contracts helps the Brazilian miner deliver a healthy rebound in the second quarter
Enel appoints banks for green business IPO
Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Mediobanca to list minority stake in renewable energy unit
Anglo reinstates dividend after two-year break
The global mining group has restored its pay-out as high prices for its commodities helped it double first-half operating profits and relax financial conservatism
Li Ka-shing buys EDF arm for £5.8bn
EDF Networks has low-voltage electricity distribution networks in the east and south of England, long-term contracts with businesses such as London Underground, Heathrow and Gatwick, and the Channel Tunnel
KNOC set to complete bid package for Dana
Korea National Oil Corporation is close to arranging the loans needed to launch a formal £1.7bn offer for Dana Petroleum as the UK oil explorer battles to convince its shareholders to push for a higher offer
Results underline strength of Europe's corporate recovery
Industrial companies have led the recovery after a crushing fall in earnings last year
Forgemasters set Cable nuclear deadline
Sheffield Forgemasters will warn the business secretary it will ditch an expansion into nuclear power unless the government helps fund the project
Stability crucial to US investment, warns Statoil
Norwegian oil and gas group warns US authorities that oil companies need a "stable and predictable" regulatory environment if they are to press ahead with investments in the Gulf of Mexico
Chinalco and Rio sign $1.35bn Guinea deal
Pact allows the Chinese state-owned miner to buy in to a rich iron ore project in Guinea, in a move that places both mining companies at the centre of multi-billion-dollar scramble for west Africa's iron ore
Exxon shrugs off effect of moratorium
ExxonMobil said that the moratorium on new deepwater drilling in the Gulf would have no significant short-term impact on its profits
High oil prices buoy Repsol results
Spanish energy group reveals a 39 per cent year-on-year increase in first-half net profits, buoyed by higher oil prices and improved refining margins.
CKI drawn by UK's regulatory framework
The energy and water group controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing says the UK's regulatory environment has been a significant factor in its approach for EDF's electricity networks business in the UK
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