Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
29
Sustainab
le Energy Alternatives for the Southwest
David Berry
CONTENTS
29.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 505
29.2 Energy System Today ........................................................................................................ 506
29.3 Risks and Risk Management ............................................................................................ 508
29.3.1 Environmental Risks of Conventional Power Generation ............................... 508
29.3.2 Economic Risks ...................................................................................................... 509
29.4 Alternative Energy Resources .......................................................................................... 510
29.5 Diminishing Role of Coal-Fired Power Plants .............................................................. 511
29.6 Institutional Bases for a Sustainable Power System ..................................................... 513
29.6.1 State Capabilities .................................................................................................... 513
29.6.2 Local Capabilities ................................................................................................... 515
29.6.3 Role of Community Organizations ..................................................................... 517
29.6.4 Utility Capabilities ................................................................................................. 517
29.7 Assessment ......................................................................................................................... 518
Acknowledgment ........................................................................................................................ 519
References ..................................................................................................................................... 519
29.1 Introduction
Electricity is necessary for modern life. The problem is how to produce and consume it in
a manner that is environmentally and economically sustainable over the long haul.
The desert Southwest includes some of the country's largest metropolitan areas—Los
Angeles, San Diego, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas,
Albuquerque, and El Paso, as well as several smaller metropolitan areas. The 30 million peo-
ple living in these metropolitan areas consume large amounts of electricity that is generated
using a system whose basic design was developed decades ago. That system has provided
reliable electric service but it faces enormous environmental conflicts and economic risks.
This chapter describes the emerging transformation of the electric supply and demand
system in the desert Southwest from one dominated by central station fossil-fueled power
plants to a cleaner energy future that relies much more on renewable energy and energy
efficiency. This transformation depends on the development of institutional capabilities
in the public and private sectors to plan for and implement a more sustainable energy
system. Institutional capability refers to the competence of organizations to influence
conduct, cultivate new paradigms, innovate, mobilize resources, and attract broad
505
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