A press release from the North American Electricity Reliability Council highlights the inadequacy of the current electricity system
Demand for electricity is expected to increase over the next ten years by 19 percent in the U.S., but confirmed power capacity will increase by only 6 percent. Capacity margins are projected to drop below minimum target levels in Texas, New England, the Mid-Atlantic area, the Midwest, and the Rocky Mountain area, in the next two to three years, with other portions of the Northeastern U.S., Southwest, and Western U.S. falling below minimum target levels later in the period. In Canada, projected margins are adequate except in Western Canada, where additional resources will be needed as soon as 2008.
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The NERC report identifies 22 necessary actions that encompass all areas of the bulk power system including generation, transmission, fuel supply and delivery, and demand response. Specific recommended actions include:
- Addition of power generation facilities;
- New and upgraded transmission facilities;
- Stronger contracts and other arrangements for the reliable supply and delivery of fuel to power
- generation facilities;
- More “demand-side” measures such as business and consumer energy-efficiency programs; and
- Addressing aging workforce issues in the electric industry.
The full report.
