ERMUSR Education 07-09-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Notes from APPA's Annual Conference in San Antonio TX June 25-27, 2007 Kathy Kay talked about the world view of USA, presidential candidates, and Iraq. Next President of USA could possibility not be in the race yet. Election process is much too long compared to Europe and far to expensive. When USA went to war in Iraq, we did not lesson to our allies and now we want their help in bailing us out of Iraq. She offered no exit strategy for Iraq. Dr. Jay Apt reviewed various electric wholesale market studies funded by EMRI. His conclusion is the electric deregulation experiment has not worked or met initial expectations. The industry is now looking at an exit strategy. Situation is very similar to Iraq, it is a hell of a mess and how do we get out of it. Good presentation on Climate change legislation .Due to lack of Federal legislation progress, many States are passing their now climate change legislation with many different goals and approaches. No common consensus. The Fed's are finally realizing the complexity of this issue and legislation may not immerge until 2008. Although science of CO2 is not definitive, "Gore won" and CO2 restrictions will happen. Professor John Doggett talked about China, India, and Brazil, their immerging market and how it will affect us. China is constructing 1 coal power plant a week and 20 nuclear plants are under construction. We are lucky to get a coal plant a year on line. China as good environmental laws on the books but they do not enforce them. China's GNP will surpass USA by 2030+/-. China is consuming much of the world's resources. Can mother earth sustain this type and magnitude of consumption? Democracy and free enterprise won the cold war, now the world wants to be like the USA. How can we say they cannot. China and USA are already in competition for materials, technology, and market share. We have a large debt and they have a cash balance. China now provides more air pollution than the USA and India is not far behind. The key to economic growth is electric system. Dr Paul Portney discussed the economics of climate change legislation. Regardless of science, legislation will happen. He is suggesting we do it slowly and do it right. Carbon tax is a better solution but CO2 cap and trade appears the direction we are going. Set caps less than required CO2 levels to ensure a market and real results are achieved. USA can and should increase R/D spending from current $3 billion/year to $150 billion/year. Economy can support this level of investment. Our generation (50-60 years old, me generation) are very greedy and have not invested in the future as previous generation. Very risk adverse. Dr Steve Spector discussed if the USA can achieve pre 1990 CO2 emission levels. It can be achieved with more efficient appliances/lighting, more renewable energy, more nuclear energy more efficient coal burning plants, carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS), plug in hybrid electric vehicles and distributed energy resources. With the above technologies, costs will increase from $50/MWH to $100 MWH. If nuclear and CCS do not happen, costs will increase to $250/MWH. Nuclear storage can be partially solved using breeder reactors. Due to the time to initiate some of these technologies, we must start with more efficient appliances/ lighting. He is afraid when all is said and done, more will be said