I happen to be in a somewhat unusual position geographically—I’m between the Limerick and Peach Bottom nuclear plants, so a significant portion of my electricity comes from nuclear generation. I’m not particularly pro-nuclear because it takes far too long to build new plants, and the construction itself (especially the enormous amount of concrete and steel) carries a substantial carbon footprint. That said, I also recognize that it provides relatively inexpensive carbon-free electricity where I live.
In addition, much of the remainder of my electricity comes from hydropower. Even so, hydro isn’t especially high on my list of “green” energy sources. Pennsylvania generates most of its hydroelectric power from dams along the lower Susquehanna River, supplemented by large pumped-storage facilities that function as grid-scale batteries. Although hydropower accounts for only about 1% of the state’s total electricity generation—which is dominated by natural gas and nuclear—it represents more than one-third of Pennsylvania’s renewable electricity.
Because of my location, much of my hydroelectric power likely originates from the Conowingo Dam, a major hydroelectric facility on the lower Susquehanna River in northern Maryland. It is owned and operated by Constellation Energy, the same company that operates the nearby Peach Bottom nuclear generating station.
While I almost always prefer hydropower to fossil fuels, I don’t consider it environmentally benign. Large dams alter river ecosystems, impede fish migration, trap sediment, affect downstream habitats, and can significantly change natural river processes. Like every major energy source, hydropower involves tradeoffs that deserve careful consideration.
Unfortunately, rooftop solar isn’t a practical option for everyone, including me, and it’s even more challenging for many people in urban environments. Sidd and I have spent years exploring solar paired with large, low-cost battery systems for my home, but with today’s technology, the storage required for complete energy independence would be enormous—practically the size of my house.
My view is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. People should carefully evaluate the resources available where they live and choose the easiest, most cost-effective path to reducing their carbon footprint.
I don’t know if you saw my recent post about DIY climate control. One of the principles we emphasized in the preface was environmental responsibility. For our evaporative cooling experiments, we didn’t use potable water indiscriminately. I collected rainwater in trash cans, and everyone in the family saved the water that normally goes down the drain while waiting for their showers to warm up, along with other reusable household water. The goal was to reduce both energy use and water waste by making use of water that would otherwise have been discarded. http://membrane.com/global_warming/Water-Into-Electricity/
Inspired by:
PJM Electricity 900% Price Spike: Capacity Market Shock and Heat-Driven Grid Stress