Sustainability-(k)


 * Allen, Howard P. “Electric Utilities: Can They Meet Future Power Needs?”** **__Annals of the American Academy of__ __Political and Social Science__ 410 (November 1973): 86-96.**

This article is written by a Senior Vice President for Southern California Edison, a large investor-owned utility serving Southern California. Allen argues for the need to develop a national energy policy in light of forecasted growth in energy demand, understanding that a multi-faceted approach, and approaches that balance environmental considerations with providing additional energy supply, will be needed. 1973, the year the article was written, was a watershed year for the United States in terms of energy moving to near the top of the national agenda, as the country faced its first major oil shock due to the Arab oil embargo. This article reflects the county’s attention toward considering alternative (to traditional polluting fossil fuels) and environmentally sensitive sources of energy. The focus on balancing expanding energy supply with environmental considerations reflects the new-found influence of the environmental movement (still in its infancy) in the United States (e.g., the creation of the first Earth Day three years earlier, and the recent establishment of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)). **(Hilary Straus)

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 * Asbury, Joseph G. and Ronald O. Mueller. “Solar Energy and Electric Utilities: Should They Be Interfaced?” __Science__ 195, no. 4277 (February 4, 1977): 445-450.**

Asbury and Mueller conclude that “conventional electric utility systems and most solar energy systems represent a poor technological match. The basic problem is that both technologies are very capital intensive. The electric utility, because of the high fixed costs of generation, transmission, and distribution capacity represents a poor backup for solar energy systems. On the other hand, the solar collection system, because it represents pure, high-cost capital and because of its outage problems, cannot b e considered as a part-load source of auxiliary energy for the electric utility system” (p. 450). This article, when referenced with the Malott article, “Joint Operation of Municipal Utilities …” (below), highlights that the economic and operational viability of co-locating utility operations must be studied on a case-by-case basis. **(Hilary Straus)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GE Invests $112 M in Run-of-River Hydroelectric Project** 5/30/07; http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48684 General Electric Energy Financial Services is set to invest $112 Million in hydroelectricity project in British Columbia, Canada. This river project differs from typical hydroelectricity plans in that no dam must be built. Instead, water id diverted through a pipe, and downhill to the generating station. The project is expected to become functional in 2010. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jackson, T., Oliver, M. “The Evolution of Economic and Environmental Cost for Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics,” __Energy Policy__ 28 (2000): 1011-1021. http://dx.doi.org.libproxy.usc.edu/10.1016/S0301-4215(00)00088-4 This article focuses on crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) technology and where it has been and where it is going. The goal of the article is to provide policy makers with an understanding of how the CSP technology has applications in Europe have evolved to become less cost prohibitive when weighed against the environmental benefits, specifically the abatement of carbon dioxide emissions. There are a number of research methods employed, including a comparison study of a PV plant and a conventional electricity plant, as well as analysis of the benefits associated with integrating PV’s into buildings. There is also a detailed analysis of multiple issues within PV system performance. --Kristine