Thread: What do you make of the new study finding that 31 states could be self-reliant with renewable energy? - Yahoo! Answers

Great, we all know this but it all depends on whether the Government will follow up and take immediate action or whether it will be swept under the carpet like the electric car and so on.

How much of ND GDP will it take to pay for the added cost to their electricity. LOL

A new report from the New Rules Project finds that over 60% of all U.S. states have the renewable energy resources to be “energy self-reliant.” For example, North Dakota could provide 14,000% of its energy needs with wind alone. 19 states could provide more than their total energy needs with just onshore wind (see page 13). A further 6 states could provide more energy than they need with offshore wind. Alaska could provide for all its...

The study also finds that most states could reduce their energy needs by 50-75% by meeting California's energy efficiency. That's the most important part... if we start building all new structures to be net-zero energy and bring everything else up to speed, the cost of the alternative systems would be greatly reduced by the smaller capacity needed. As a green builder of net-zero energy homes, I have people waiting in line...

DUH... I suppose it took some genius to figure it out, what everyone knew already? The USA has vast areas with high solar potential, and that could be carried to other metropolises, just like hydro; power stations aren't in urban areas, usually, so why would solar be limited so? However, co-generation is critical, democratic, and essential to relieve our dependency on these huge energy providers. And YES, clean energy potentially can...

I could see it being possible for low population density US states to get all their electricity from renewable energy though places with higher population density aren't going to be able to do it and even the places with lower population density would likely be better off with nuclear (it's already been shown that the UK can't get all of its energy from renewables). Energy storage not being good enough (and not all...

Yea but are the people in North Dakota going to want to build new roads and have construction take place on ridges and mountains? You dont think the new infrastructure is going to have a huge impact on the surrounding area? Like the wind turbines presenting a danger to bats. Do you think people arent going to protest digging geothermal wells in alaska? Might as well drill ANWR. I cant see California being a role model for anything, the state...

I'm sure that this will all still be a long time coming. As long as the energy companies keep energy supply low and it's delivery unstable, the prices can be manipulated and they can make their ridiculous profits. So basically, they are in no hurry at all to invest those profits in anything but huge salaries, huge bonuses, huge dividends for their preferred stock holders (not your average Joe who has some cash in the market)....

This study understates the potential of alternative energy. Just considering the potential of wind power in the contiguous U.S., there is enough potential in the good wind areas to meet an additional 150 % in electric power used based on current usage. In addition to that there is the technology of solar power, which is becoming increasingly efficient. Besides that there is geothermal power which utilizes the heat from the Earth to generate...

The population densities of the most efficiently supplied states were really low. Therefore, states like North Dakota can be supported by wind power. Also, cost is an issue. Everybody wants to be green, but few want to spend the green for it. California is the worst model of energy efficiency. The Energy Crisis, ridiculous taxes, economic crisis, etc. California is efficient because of an inadequate supply of energy per population. I support...