Virginia’s energy future
December 11, 2009 by Al Harris
Offshore wind, natural gas, nuclear power, solar or coal?
All of the above, if Virginia wants to be the energy capital of the country.
That was the message of a Virginia Chamber of Commerce conference on energy and the environment yesterday at the Richmond Marriott. The event was attended by more than 200 members from various sectors of the energy industry.
“We need every megawatt we can generate from every source we can,” said David Hudgins, director of member and external affairs for the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative.
Many speakers expressed concern that policies from Washington such as cap and trade and increased authority for the Environmental Protection Agency will have damaging effects on the economy.
“We mine and sell carbon. That is what we do,” said Kevin Crutchfield, CEO of Alpha Natural Resources. “Then again, we have to start thinking through where is the world going to go.”
Alpha Natural Resources, based in Abingdon, Va., is the country’s third largest coal producer.
Crutchfield said there is about 260 years worth of coal reserves in the country at current consumption levels. Over the next 50 years, Crutchfield said, he expects to see breakthroughs in solar and wind, but he expects coal to remain an important source of energy for a long time to come.
“For our children, grandchildren and their children, it is something we need to think about,” Crutchfield said. “At the end of the day, what I come back to is that the solution is everything above.”
Alpha recently created a sustainability department to develop a long-term vision for the company as coal supplies diminish and carbon emissions become more regulated. The company is also working with Virginia Tech to study the prospect of turning former mining sites into wind or solar farms.
State Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) said he believes the development of oil and natural gas, offshore wind, and nuclear power in Virginia could make the state the energy capital of the East Coast.
“Some of the best winds in the nation are off the coast of Virginia,” said Wagner. “The potential load off the coast of Virginia is enough to keep the lights on in D.C., as long as the wind blows.”
Al Harris covers alternative energy for BizSense. Please send news tips to Al@richmondbizsense.com.
COAL?!!??!
Nuclear Power Plants = Clean Power + JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS
The creation of new nuclear power plants will produce great American middle class jobs. These great jobs are created in both the building and running of a new nuke plant. This can not be said for the building of solar panels and wind mills parts which will be done in China in order to keep prices down.
Note this comment by Jim Rodgers the CEO of Duke Energy:
“In an operation of a nuclear plant, there [are] .64 jobs per megawatt. The wind business–and we have a very large wind business–is .3 jobs per megawatt. In the solar business–and we’re installing solar panels–it’s about .1. But the difference in the jobs is quite different, because if you’re wiping off a solar panel, it’s sort of a minimum wage type of job, [with] much higher compensation for nuclear engineers and nuclear operators. If our goal is to rebuild the middle class, nuclear plays a key role there, particularly if coal is out of the equation.”
Also, how are we being environmentally friendly when we purchase wind mills and solar panels from China? China electrical grid is run from power produced from the dirtiest coal plants in the world. They don’t even scrub their coal before they burn it. That means Solar Panels and Wind Mills = CO2 + heavy metal particulates + everyone’s favorite Mercury.
Viva the Nuclear Renaissance,
Jfarmer9
We (at Virginia Tech) are pleased to work with Mr. Kevin Crutchfield, CEO of Alpha Natural Resource and his team. Recently Mr. Crutchfield and I discussed his vision for the future of the coal industry and the need to find carbon capture technologies like Algae to help create a carbon capture option. He said this was one of the most promising clean energy technologies he has seen.
For more information on clean energy technology research, development, and commercialization in Virginia, visit our website. This is the official site for the Virginia Clean Energy Business Incubator, a NREL affiliated statewide incubator that is leading the way for Virginia to claim the title (Clean) Energy Capital of the Country. For more information contact Dr. Carole Cameron Inge at (434) 294-1254 or e-mail me. For more information on algal technology in Virginia, visit Algal Farms’ website found under Google.