What’s your electricity recipe?
One of the biggest comments I see on articles related to Electric Vehicles (EV) is “Yeah but its no better than gas powered since electricity is from fossil fuels.” This is not an invalid point to a certain degree, and perhaps more energy (see what I did there?) needs to be spent on discussion about “the grid”, how electricity is generated, and from what resources. We’ll get back to the EV discussion more specifically in later posts, since in most states the math does point towards EVs still coming out ahead over gas powered vehicles.
With the disaster in Texas and the near collapse of its grid (which would have been even worse and taken months to recover from) perhaps this topic is timely as there has been a lot of discussion about the energy mix in Texas - (along with bold face lies from the Governor about the root of the issue - but that is also a topic for another day.)
Let’s get to it.
So the question for today is: Do you know you how your state produces or consumes energy?
With my solar panels coated in a weird snow ice mix for multiple days in late February, and with gaps to the outdoors as part of my kitchen remodel, I was running my space heater to warm the room I was working in for most the day so that the natural gas powered furnace wouldn’t be running non-stop to heat the great outdoors through the gaps. I was curious where my electricity was coming from. It took one quick google search to discover a comprehensive report. As we all make plans and decisions around our energy consumption knowing we need to reach net-zero by 2050 - we need to know where we’re starting from. In order to have informed opinions around zoning decisions for solar farms, for new building regulations, on new pipelines, on the need to invest in upgrades and maintenance of the grid - we need a baseline of where we are today.
Here are some details as of 2019 for MD.
MD consumes almost 50% more electricity than we generate, and we’re part of the mid-Atlantic regional electricity grid. However, we rank among the lowest 10 states in per capita energy consumption (ahem, your welcome). Of the electricity we generate - 38% of our electricity comes from nuclear power (we do have a nuclear power plant hanging out by the Bay at Calvert Cliffs), 37% from natural gas-fired power plants (and rising), 14% from coal (and dropping), 11% from renewables (hydro, solar, wind, biomass - and solar is rising).
Check out eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=MD for these data points and more. You can check your state by switching the state in the top left. I really learned a lot from this report! Like 13% of Maryland’s mined coal is exported to other countries. . .and yet we import some coal all the way from Colorado. It gives you a real sense of the complexity of the energy system behind that light switch (that you should turn off when you leave the room).
Requirements to increase renewable energy
By 2020, 20% of retail electricity sales was required to come from renewable energy in Maryland - I think this is where RECs (renewable energy credits) may come into play to make up the difference in what we are generating versus using/selling/buying to meet the 20% requirement. When I make more power than I use in April with my solar panels, there is a true-up where my extra is sold in the credits market. I get a little money and my net-meter account goes back to zero for May.
By 2030, 50% is required to come from renewables. This is important to know. Why? This changes the calculus for planning for owning an EV, for switching to an electric heat pump and electric hot water heating if you currently use natural gas, etc. It also drives the importance of electricity storage innovation.
As the electricity generation for the grid becomes cleaner, it drives the math for switching from fossil fuel use in the home to that of electricity. My furnace is currently at least 11 years old. Its oversized, which can negatively affect its efficiency, cost to operate as well as its life span. The average lifespan is 15 -20 years according to a quick google search. It is natural gas powered. The math works out that it will make sense to plan ahead to switch to an electric-based heating system, preferably before my current system dies.
While Maryland’s electricity should reach 50% renewables by 2030, there is a way to switch to all renewables now - at least for some of us who live in one of the 11 states with Energy Choice.
Stay Tuned: Do you live in an Energy Choice state? It provides the option of switching to 100% renewable energy without adding solar panels or a wind mill to your house!
