This is Part III of a three part series. Part I covered the basics of the three major Heat-Engines that provide about 75% of our electricity in the U.S. Part II covered the propulsion systems for ocean shipping. This article will explain the basics of smaller Heat-Engines used for electricity generation, farming, food production, food distribution, automobiles, trucks, trains, aircraft, small engines for landscape, construction, mining, military defense machines and more. Internal Combustion Engines (ICE’s) powered by fossil fuels are used widely in all sectors of our economy.
Conventional Energy=Life as We Know It
Let’s start with the largest Internal Combustion Engine ever built. The Wartsilla Marine Engine is credited to be the largest reciprocating Diesel engine in the world. These have been tested at up to 114,000 Hp.
State of the art design Marine Propulsion Prime Movers Have Been Adapted for Use as Stationary Power Generation for a Long Time.
Electric Power generation technology progressed from ship and aircraft propulsion systems over the years. Many central station power plant systems have their roots in marine and aircraft propulsion. Consider these milestones for land, sea and aircraft:(14)
Robert Fulton Steamboat Clermont-1807
Otto invents the 4-Cycle Gas engine-1867
Charles Parsons, invents Steam Turbine-1884
Charles Parsons Steam Turbine drive on Turbinia-1894, Fastest Ship in the world
Rudolf Diesel invents Compression Ignition Diesel engine-1895
First large Diesel engines for Maritime use are in German Submarines during WWI
Dr. Hans von Ohain (Germany) and Sir Frank Whittle (UK) are both recognized as being the co-inventors of the jet engine, later adapted to electric power generation-1933
U.S. Nuclear submarine Nautilus launched 1954 powered by a PWR
Largest Diesel Engine ever built-Wartsilla RTA96-C 107,000 HP-2006
Internal Combustion Engines for Electricity Generation
Large natural gas and Diesel powered generators are commonly used for Dispatchable backup power for areas served by large capacity of wind and solar generation. When the wind stops and sun is not shining, the Grid must be stabilized with adequate generation that is needed quickly. Internal combustion engines serve this need very well. The picture below is from a facility near Marquette, Michigan. This picture below is a 17 MW (24,000 Hp) gas engine. Multiple engines can be installed for total power capacity of over 225 MW as in the Denton, TX plant.
The advantages of the gas engines are: They have black start capability, fast load response, VAR (Volt Ampere Reactive) support, most importantly they can run 24/7 under any weather conditions and they are Dispatchable. The adaption from marine propulsion systems makes the features of black start and load responsiveness intrinsic in the design. These are referred to as “RICE”, an acronym for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines.
Aeroderivative Gas Turbines
The aeroderivative gas turbines also serve as tremendously reliable, Dispatchable and powerful prime movers for generators. The name aeroderivative is descriptive as these heat-engines have a long history of development and advancements in materials and design for reliable aircraft propulsion. Therefore, reliability is an intrinsic priority. One of the most common and proven designs is the G-E LM-2500 shown below.
In Part I of this series I described the larger G-E Gas Turbines used with Combined Steam Cycles (GTCC) of the 600-700 MW capacity range. Like the internal combustion reciprocating engines, the gas turbine prime mover has the advantages of fast starts, Dispatchability, VARs support, 24/7 operation, rapid load response and quick shutdown. Truly flexible generation.
Heat-Engines in our Everyday Lives
The most common Internal Combustion Engines (ICE’s) of course are used in transportation. Automobiles, trucks, tractors, farm equipment, construction equipment, aircraft, ships and trains. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 37% of the total Primary Energy used in the U.S. during 2023 was for transportation. About 28 Quadrillion BTUs to be exact.
These are the forms of energy that power our lives each day. The ICE is a large part of our lives whether it is in powering our computer, providing illumination, powering industrial production, construction, farming and providing jobs. Also, very importantly for our freedom of travel…..providing the fuel for transportation of our families and friends.
Fertilizer, Farming, Food Production and Food Distribution
Perhaps farming and food distribution should be at the top of the list as it is one of the most basic human needs. Food production begins with fertilizer production which is off topic for this article, but fertilizer production represents a significant portion of total primary energy consumption. It is said by Vaclav Smil and other experts that synthetic fertilizer production is important to feed about 50% of the world’s population. Then, once fertilizer is produced; planting/harvesting/processing/Distribution of food progresses from farm to table. Energy is important every step along the way.(9)
The enormous productivity benefit of a Diesel tractor is obvious. The importance of energy in producing fertilizer, food processing, refrigeration and trucking distribution is not so obvious. However, much of food production farm to table, involves heat-engines and fossil fuels. In fact, the cost component of energy; farm to table is about 50% energy.
The IEA has analyzed the cost component of energy for common foods and documented that about 50% of food cost is from energy.(10)
Conclusions
Conventional forms of energy are important and it takes a lot of natural gas, petroleum, coal and nuclear to power and sustain our high quality of life. Those that believe wind and solar can replace conventional forms of energy during the next twenty years are delusionally misguided and indoctrinated with misinformation. Professor Vaclav Smil has documented this quite well, (He has written dozens of books on the subject and is, in fact one of the sharpest world energy experts)
Four components of our lives cannot be replaced by renewable power. Those four pillars of society are Fertilizer, Steel, Concrete and Plastics.(11, 15)
The “Heat-Engines” that Civil Society Depends on will remain important for a long time and so will fossil fuels. This three part series was intended to provide an overview of these magnificent machines.
Yours truly,
Dick Storm, August 10, 2024
References and Information for further reading and research
How many products have you bought lately that have a “Made in America” label on them? This article is to provide some background on the importance of conventional fossil fuels to provide the fuel for over 53,000 ocean transport ships. The MV Dali collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore provides a wakeup call regarding the immensity of world trade. The MV Dali is reported to have a fuel capacity of 1.8 million gallons of fuel. Its engine is an MAN-B&W Diesel rated at 41,480 MW or 55,6260 Horsepower.(2)There are thousands of other large ocean transport ships like her that we depend on each day to distribute raw materials and products to the people of the world, 99% are powered by fossil fuels.
Sometimes, it takes a tragedy to stir the public’s attention. Before the Dali collision and subsequent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, many folks may not have given much thought to the number of huge ships like this that are delivering raw materials and manufactured products throughout the world.
My main point is, the motive force to propel these ships through the water represents a lot of primary energy. According to the IEA, about 8.7 Exajoules (8.2 Quadrillion BTUs).About 25% of the world’s total energy consumption is used for transportation, when all ships, trains, motor vehicles and aircraft are considered.
How Much Fuel Does one Large Ship Consume?
One of the largest container ships to call on the U.S., the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, carries approximately 4.5 million gallons of fuel oil. The smaller Dali about 1.8 million gallons.
The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is considered an ultra-large container ship, as it can carry the equivalent of 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in containers. Ultra-large container ships are more frequently used to bring goods from Asia to Europe.
Container ships that can go through the old Panama Canal locks are called Panamax ships and can generally hold up to 5,000 TEUs. Those vessels typically hold between 1.5 million and 2 million gallons of fuel. (The Dali was carrying 4,680 containers when it struck the Key Bridge)
Many container ships that call on the U.S. now are considered post-Panamax or New Panamax, named so because they are larger and can go through the newer, larger locks on the Panama Canal. Those ships are generally in the 8,000- to 14,000-TEU range. Ships in that size range can carry between 2.5 million and 4.5 million gallons of fuel.
The amount of fuel actually to be used on a trip depends primarily on the ship’s speed. Most ship engines have been designed for top speeds ranging between 20 and 25 knots per hour, which is between 23 and 28 miles per hour. A Panamax container ship can consume 63,000 gallons of marine fuel per day at that speed. This is a lot of fuel however, when expressed as fuel per ton mile, ocean transport is more efficient and uses less fuel/ton of cargo than any other method of shipping.
How Many Ships?
There are over 53,000 merchant ships registered to sail the oceans. This according to “Info Maritime” (1) The top 15 countries for numbers of vessels is shown on the chart below.
Closing Summary
Ocean transport is important to supply the people of the world with the products, food and raw materials needed to live sustainable lives. (Sustainable to me means, living the high quality of life that we enjoy now)
I should mention that this article was inspired by Ron Stein’s article in “America Out Loud”, which made mention of petroleum products making possible 6,000 products, 50,000 military aircraft, 50,000 ships and 20,000 commercial airplanes that the people of the world all depend.(7)
Fossil Fuels in the U.S.A.
Fossil Fuels used in the U.S.A. are shown below by the EIA for the year 2023. The world use of maritime fuel was stated by the IEA at 8.2 Quadrillion BTUs. The U.S. portion uses 26.1 Quadrillion BTUs of petroleum products for all transportation (34% of total fossil fuels), as shown below by the EIA chart. (If Exajoules and Quadrillion BTUs seem abstract, then think “Billions of gallons”.)
Conclusions
Ocean transport is important to sustain our quality of life. Including transport of food. Billions of gallons of Fossil fuels are used for shipping and this reasonable cost and abundant fuel is extremely important to keep international shipping costs reasonable.
The marine industry is under pressure to Decarbonize.(9) This is not only ludicrous but also it will be very expensive. The large and truly magnificent reciprocating internal combustion engines, a couple examples are discussed above are versatile and with some modifications, can be converted to use hydrogen, Methanol or ammonia. However, the production of hydrogen as a fuel requires much more energy, up to four times as much for production as is provided by the burning of the resulting hydrogen as fuel. Therefore a quick back of the envelope calculation would indicate that changing to hydrogen fuel will cost 4 times as much as current marine Diesel or Bunker fuel. Have you bought any hydrogen lately?
Large reciprocating engines similar to those used for ocean transport have been successfully used on land in stationary power generation power plants. They have the operations flexibility for fast starting and a quick shut down.(10, 11, 12) Operational flexibility that is ideal for backing up intermittent renewable solar and wind. The next article will feature these derivatives of large marine engines that are used for backup of Variable electricity generation renewables.
The 20th century began with much farm work, transportation, heating and home chores being done with muscle power and wood burning. As coal, petroleum, natural gas and later nuclear energy were applied to replace muscle power, our country experienced rapid growth in industrial production, food production, shipping, travel and a growing economy. Also, comforts and conveniences at home and work such as air conditioning, refrigeration, cooking, dishwashers, automatic washers, and more. A previous article on the history of energy is here. That 105 year period 1850-1955 yielded incredible growth in both industrial output and economic growth. The strength of the U.S. grew and expanded for the U.S. to become the Greatest country in the world, with the largest economy in the world. This was made possible by many factors, including; the Judeo-Christian work ethic of the people, Liberty, Capitalism, Free Markets, creativity, inventiveness, innovation and the abundance of God’s given treasure of Domestic energy resources. Including the richest deposits of coal in the world, natural gas and petroleum. America, the Saudi Arabia of Coal!
An important point, not often discussed. Wherever there is coal, so is there oil and gas. In 2023, the U.S. produced more crude oil than any other country.(24) This in spite of excessive Federal regulations and an out of control EPA.
Reasonable cost and abundant energy was essential for America’s success, just as energy is essential for any other country’s success. America’s energy use is reported in British Thermal Units (BTU) and the U.S. uses about 100 Quadrillion BTUs each year. The Energy Institute and the International Energy Administration reports world energy use in Exajoules (EJ) and the world uses about 620 Exajoules per year. (0.947817 x 620 EJ= 587.6 Quadrillion BTU)
Why Horsepower?
I have written on this before and had some feedback from readers and friends that “The general public doesn’t understand it when they are told they use about 850,000 BTUs of energy each day or the U.S. used 100 Quadrillion BTUs in a year”. Therefore, for this two part essay I thought I would express electricity energy in “Horsepower”. Rather than BTUs, kWH, Joules or Foot-Pounds, this article expresses energy production in Horsepower because, especially my family and friends, horsepower is a term most folks look at when buying a new car or truck, whether it is a 250 Hp Diesel fueled Ford F-150 or a 1020 Hp Tesla Model S. The fuel for each must first be provided by Primary Energy used to create either motive force or electricity.
Primary Energy
About 92% of the Primary energy used in America is used in Heat-Engines to power our high quality of life. About a third of the primary energy used in the U.S. is used to generate electricity. This article is intended to be a primer on the massive Heat-Engines that keep our Grid energized. Part 2 will include smaller heat-engines used for electric power generation and those used for transportation. It is my goal to keep the Thermodynamics simple so that non technically trained people can understand the importance of the 92% conventional Primary energy that we depend on. Past articles that I have written attempted to explain the differences of Primary Energy and Secondary Energy.Here, Here and Here. Primary energy flows in the U.S. for the year 2022 is shown on the LLNL chart here. The World use of Primary energy is shown by the Energy Institute here.
Common Large Heat-Engines
Definition of a Heat-Engine: A heat engine is a system that converts heat to usable energy, particularly mechanical energy, which can then be used to do mechanical work. Such as a Steam Turbine which converts the heat energy of steam into rotational force to spin a generator to produce electricity.
Also, a gas turbine or turbo-jet engine that uses heat energy to create rotational force to a shaft. A portion of the heat energy is exhausted as waste. The difference of the heat content of the steam or hot gas at the inlet and at the exhaust is the net work that has been extracted for useful purposes. In this article steam and gas turbines will be discussed. In a power plant the steam turbine or gas turbine is sometimes referred to as the Prime Mover. A previous article touches on Heat-Engines. The illustration below is a graphical description of the conversion of coal fuel to provide heat used to generate steam. The steam is then used to spin a turbine providing the motive force creating shaft horsepower to spin a generator and ultimately generating electric power. The heat source to produce steam can be coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil, biomass or municipal waste. The basic steam cycle remains the same, referred to in our industry as the “Rankine Steam Cycle”.
From Storm Technologies Large Electric Utility Boiler Combustion & Performance Optimization Course
Thermal Power is important for everything we do!
One pre-requisite to understanding Heat-Engines, is to understand the difference between Primary Energy and Secondary Energy. Covered in previous articles, here, here and here.
Types of Heat-Engines
Let’s start with one of the largest first. Here is a photo of the Zimmer Coal Plant. This plant shut down in 2022 but when started up in 1991 it was amongst the largest single unit power plants in the world with 1351 MW capacity, Dispatchable 24/7, rain or shine, summer or winter. This plant was one of my favorites and in my opinion, it is an example of one of the most magnificent heat engines ever built.
The photo above is just part of the power plant, showing the Low Pressure Turbine and generator. There is also a High Pressure turbine and separate generator. The entire Zimmer “Heat-Engine” comprises the entire power plant shown below in an aerial photo. Although I have been in the power generation business for over 50 years, it still amazes me that so much of the equipment involved in the total electrical energy production starting with a coal conveyer moving 500 tons per hour of coal can be pulverized and burned, produce steam to the turbines and generate electricity to the Grid (the equivalent of 1.8 million Hp) through three skinny high voltage wires that are smaller than 2″ in diameter and 1.8 million horsepower of energy.
Photo from Cincinnati Newspaper about 1994
The Zimmer Coal Plant when operating at full capacity of 1350 MW’s is equivalent to about 1,800,000 Horsepower. To generate this much power about one million pounds of 11,000 BTU/# coal would be pulverized and burned in suspension in the furnace each hour. That is one reason why I refer to this power plant as a Magnificent Heat Engine. The million pounds per hour (Imagine five 100 ton coal cars/hour) of coal is converted into electricity that flows through three high voltage conductors to the transmission lines feeding the Grid. The water flow to the steam generator is equivalent to about 20,000 gallons per minute. An Olympic swimming pool holds about 600,000 gallons. At maximum capacity the Zimmer steam generator will evaporate the equivalent of two Olympic swimming pools full of water each hour and heat that water to steam at over 3,845 pounds per square inch and 1,000 degrees F. The single turbine driven boiler feed water pump is powered by a 50 MW (67,000 Hp) steam turbine which is about as powerful as all the power consumed on a hot summer day in my old town (about 20,000 people) in Albemarle, NC. Fifty Megawatts is the power to drive just the feed water pump.
These are a few reasons why I consider Zimmer to be a magnificent Heat Engine. An excerpt from the POWER Magazine 1993 feature article is copied below.
Nuclear Power Generation
The Oconee Nuclear Plant is another example of Thermal power generation. Allow me to also call this a heat engine. Three units with a total capacity of 2,554 MW. The illustration below is from the Duke Energy Fact Sheet.
This three unit nuclear powered “Heat-Engine” is about twice as large in total output as the Zimmer Coal Plant discussed above. Expressed as Horsepower, the three units together represent the equivalent of over 3.3 million horsepower.
Both the Zimmer and Oconee plants utilize the Rankine Steam Cycle.
Natural Gas Turbines
Modern gas turbines used for power generation are referred to as “Aeroderivative” Why? Because the gas turbine technology used is derived from jet engine designs. I wrote on the history of power generation in a previous article here. Two engineers, one German and one British are credited with the invention of the jet engine which came to be in the mid 1930’s. The first gas turbine application to power generation is generally thought to be by General Electric at the Belle Isle Station in Oklahoma, about 1949. The simple Gas Turbine single cycle is called the “Brayton Cycle”. An illustration of a modern Gas Turbine is shown below.
The generator is not shown in the above illustration but it will be similar to the generator shown above at the Zimmer coal plant. The point is that heat energy is used in each example thus far. For Zimmer coal is used to generate steam supply to power steam turbines as prime movers. Oconee uses nuclear fission to provide the heat to generate steam for the steam turbines there. Both use the Rankine steam cycle. The gas turbine shown above utilizes the Brayton cycle to create hot gases that flow through the gas turbine as the prime mover for the generator shaft.
Gas Turbine Combined Cycle Plants (GTCC)
One of the major advancements in the last twenty years or so has been the commercial application of gas turbines and steam turbine cycles working together. That is using both gas turbines with a shaft connected to a generator and then exhaust heat recovery of the gas turbine in a boiler to generate steam to provide a steam supply to a steam turbine which is the prime mover of a second generator.
By combining the gas turbine and steam turbine cycles, a much greater overall efficiency can be achieved. Modern GTCC plants achieve up to 65% thermal efficiency.
The plant below is 697 MW capacity. Fueled by natural gas.
The GTCC plant electrical output of 697 MW is equivalent to 927,000 Horsepower.
Summary
Heat engines power our lives and very little is stated in the Main Stream Media about the importance of conventional energy. Especially, Thermal Energy. In fact, if anything is written or discussed on TV, the MSM demonizes carbon and thermal power. This article is an attempt to explain the immensity of electric power generation systems on which we depend. There is a war to abolish fossil fuels which provide about 80% of the fuel needed to power our lives. This is best shown on the LLNL Energy Flow Chart below. Yes, it is expressed in BTU’s (British Thermal Units) and each BTU is equivalent to 778 foot pounds of work which may have been accomplished by muscle power 150 years ago, but now many politicians and leaders seem to have forgotten what conventional energy has made possible. The Zimmer plant and many other fine coal plants are being decommissioned and most demolished, without replacement of similar reliable, affordable generation capacity. I wrote on this before, here,here and here. So have many other people and respected organizations that understand generation by conventional fuels. Some references of these others are included below.
The 2023 LLNL Energy Flow Chart is not yet available. The most recent is for year 2022, shown below. Yes, 100.2 Quadrillion BTUs and only 4.96% of this Primary Energy was provided by wind and solar. This after decades of subsidies. Anyone that thinks wind and solar can replace the 92% conventional energy sources by 2030 or even 2050 are delusional. I wrote a previous article to discuss the “Impossibility of Achieving Net-Zero Carbon”. Then the Hawaii early adoption of the “Green New Deal” became public information. Hawaii is an “Energy Island” situated geographically with plenty of sunshine and wind. Their experiences with renewables has been very expensive and at reduced reliability. You can read more on the Hawaii experiences with renewable power here. Why? Hawaii is the perfect experiment to “Transition” to renewables with no Grid connection. Therefore, the availability, affordability and practicality is a perfect science experiment. Does anyone think electricity costs of over $0.40/kWH will improve the lives of Americans? Improve our economy and world competitiveness of manufacturing? I think not. EIA electricity costs by state here.
Americans use between 833,000 and 1,000,000 BTUs of energy each day to sustain our quality of life. There are some misguided leaders and politicians that are on a path to destroy the magnificent prime movers that power our lives.
Do you remember this poem from 1948?
First They Came, by Pastor Martin Niemoller
First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me.
The environmental activists and Democrats in the U.S. have an anti-Carbon policy that has nothing to do with protecting human health or the environment. It is an agenda for one world government and control of our lives. We could paraphrase Martin Niemoller’s poem with the words….“First they came for Coal”. Trust me friends, the Biden-Harris and Democrat Party Climate Policies are NOT based on protecting your health. The (D’s) hate fossil fuels, including natural gas. The U.S. is on a path this year, to depend on about 50% (interruptible pipeline supplied) Natural gas fuel for power generation. I do not think this is wise. The Zimmer coal plant is an example of true “Energy Storage”. A coal pile plus, Coal barges tied up adjacent to the plant can provide weeks or months of Primary Energy storage. Pipelines are vulnerable to harm, whether accidental or malicious. Battery storage systems are for hours at best. Think about Grid Security and the many threats, within our country from Deep State Regulators (EPA, BLM and more) and Politicians, as well as from criminal minded foreigners. There are many threats to the energy supply to the country we love. Threats to your conventional energy powered lifestyle…..Please, THINK before you vote.
Ten organizations or entities that are responsible for the policies that are weakening and destroying America aka “The Indoctrination SWAMP Monster”
Since the 1990’s I have been aware of some anti coal politicians including Bill Clinton and then EPA Head Carol Browner. Also numerous NGO’s that demonize coal, all fossil fuels and nuclear such as the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, NRDC and many more.(75, 76, 77, 78, 79) Back in the early 2000’s when I was working hard to improve coal plant efficiencies, the EPA’s “New Source Review” (NSR) became an obstacle to plant upgrading and performance improvement. NSR was counter-productive to improving coal plant efficiency and reducing production costs. Curiously wrong for America? I wondered, “How can such reckless EPA Rules and policies prevail in this great country?” Based on problems my clients (mostly electric utilities) had with NSR, I started paying attention to the opponents of coal, nuclear and all conventional fuels. I subconsciously took in news and information to try to sort it out, Why? Also, I wrote articles for POWER Magazine, technical papers and gave presentations to Technical Societies or organizations on the topic of, “What if New Source Review Went Away?”
Many authors have written on the Washington “Swamp” Bureaucrats that set policies and laws which are against the best interests of America. The forces against the America I love are numerous and are pushing their agenda “as if” it is for the protection of human health or to save the planet. These well orchestrated organizations are what I have referred to as the “Seven Headed Monster”. Now, after thinking about it the Swamp Monster has ten heads and the policies and restrictions promoted are about control of our lives, one world government and yes, Socialism. The “Greens” are not about human health or saving the planet.(16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
I am not alone. Fortunately, (but much later than it should have been), the Supreme Court has called out the D.C. Regulatory Swamp by weighing in on the Chevron vs. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) case. (2) Below is a copy of the depiction of Donald Trump and his Cabinet setting out to attack the SWAMP. This image is compliments of Patriotic artist Jon McNaughton. He captures the essence of excessive Regulations facing all of us Americans and President Trump. The artist describes his work, “Crossing the Swamp”. “Today, Trump endeavors to cross the “swamp” of Washington DC as he carries the light of truth, hope, and prosperity. The murky water of the deep state and the ten headed monster are laced with dangerous vermin, perfectly willing to destroy American prosperity for personal ideologies, financial gain and control of America by forces outside our borders. The establishment Democrats, Never-Trumper-Republicans, Deep State, and Fake News Media will do all they can to stop the majority of the American people from succeeding.” Also, some foreign involvement to support Green actions has been reported(71,72, 73, 74, 75, 76). Thank you Jon McNaughton for your outstanding painting! (1)
The purpose of this commentary is to summarize ten of the institutions, entities and organizations that function against the best interests of Americans and all of the people of the free western world. They call them “Climate Policies”, the agenda, however, is control over our lives and it is sinister.
The slide below is from one of my presentations. There are at least seven major groups within the U.S. that influence government energy policy. This illustration attempts to provide one graphic to show as the “Seven Headed Monster”. A short description of these people and organizations will follow. At the end of this essay is a list of references to support my conclusions and for further reading and research. America must win this battle. Currently, the “Indoctrination Swamp Monster” has ten heads when government agencies, government/social media/big tech and Dark Money from foreign adversaries are included.
1. Revolving Door of NGO Extremists Into Employment in High, Influential Government Positions
In 2007 there were over 100 new, clean coal plants planned for construction. Most of the proposed plants were cancelled.(3) During 2007, about 50% of America’s electric power generation was from coal fuel. America had the most reliable and affordable electric grid in the world. In 2008 President Obama came into office to “Change America”. In addition to dividing Americans, he immediately ramped up the war on coal. If you read on and check the references at the end, the connection between Socialism and environmental activism will be connected. During his two terms he appointed two extreme activists to head the EPA. First Lisa Jackson then followed by Gina McCarthy. Some of the Regulations (such as the Clean Power Plan of 2015) was later overturned in 2021 by SCOTUS in WVA vs. EPA. However, the damage to the supply-chain and new coal plant investment viability was done. Later ESG but that is a topic for another day.
Another huge factor was the masking of the high cost of renewables with a surge in availability of low cost natural gas production from Hydraulic Fracturing. The low cost gas fuel kept U.S. electricity prices stable and electricity production cost economical as many new highly efficient gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) plants were built.
To my knowledge after about 2010 only about four major new coal plants were started up, Longview in WVA, Turk in Ark, Sandy Creek Energy Station and Cliffside in S.C. It was during the Obama Administration that it became apparent (to me) that extremists were planning, scheming and lying in wait to kill coal plants . Many key people in the Obama Administration were employed by NGO’s before and after the Obama Administration. Even while employed at NGO’s they had much to do with EPA Rules and other Bureaucratic (SWAMP) Policies. The report by the 114th Congress details the “Revolving Door” of activist/extremists and then placement into influential high government positions. (4) I wrote previous commentaries on U.S. Energy policy influencers, here, here and here.(6,7,8, 51, 85) Green policies are not only weakening America’s productive capacity, but also our military strength and readiness. (32, 87)
2. Wealthy Billionaires and Foundations
There are very wealthy people and Foundations whom are not trained or experienced in electric power generation, but may feel they are doing something good for the world by demonizing carbon and conventional forms of energy. Examples are Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos, Tom Steyer, Bill Gates, the Rockefeller Foundation, Arabella Network and more. These people and foundations together have provided well over two billion dollars in funding to NGO’s to fight coal, oil, gas, Hydraulic Fracturing and even nuclear plants. These reports are public information and many links are included below.
3. The United Nations
The U.N. has become distracted from the founding principles of promoting peace in the world. Russia is fighting Ukraine in an unprovoked war. The terror organization Hamas attacks Israel. Meanwhile, the top priority for the U.N. is more emphasis on Climate Policies for the Free western world. The policies are a path to Socialism and One World Government, but are called, “Climate Polices” I have written on this here. (9) China and Russia continue to produce and use record quantities of fossil fuels. China burns more coal than all of the rest of the world put together.
4. The World Economic Forum
The WEF includes thousands of wealthy individuals, companies, government officials and the U.N. Most unelected officials that come together periodically to promote policies for the countries of the world. Including Climate Policies. Make no mistake, the WEF is radical and unapologetic for the policies they promote. For example, De-growth, De-Industrialization, De-population and Restrictions on private ownership. (19, 20, 21, 22, 112)
5. The Main-Stream Media
Internationally circulated newspapers, magazines, TV stations and Internet News, other than a few exceptions such as the Epoch Times, Newsmax and Fox, tend to spread the U.N., WEF, IPCC, and Scare monger messages to misinform and indoctrinate the general public with the UN-IPCC messages and agenda.
6. Public Education, K-12, Universities, Public Service Messages to the General Public
Textbooks and teaching in our schools is based on the “Science being Settled” on manmade global warming. When in fact, the science is not settled. However, the scare tactics have been going on for a full generation of youth that are now voting adults. Billions of people of the world have been indoctrinated and scared about Global Warming.
7. Woke Corporations
Several years ago I visited Disney World in Orlando. The exhibit of the movie “Frozen” had messages regarding the need to reduce our carbon footprint, etc. Other companies and including some electric Utility companies, also contribute to the indoctrination of the public on the demonization of carbon. Few utilities push back or resist the destructive path to exit coal and depend on more expensive, less reliable, weather dependent generation from wind and sunshine.
8. Government Funding Using Our Tax Dollars, Used Against the Best Interests of America
The Biden-Harris funding of $2 Billion taxpayer dollars has gone to promote climate action. (109, 110) Included is $50 million dollars to support anti-Israel, pro-Hamas so called, Social Justice. The huge dollar flows however, are through Planned Parenthood and the alignment of Abortion and Environmental activism. (95, 96, 97)
9. Dark Money, Including from Foreign Adversaries
Foreign influence of U.S. energy and environmental policy has been documented for many years. Numerous references are included below of funds from Russia, China and other foreign governments to influence U.S. environmental policy. As nearly everyone is aware, the Climate Policies promoted by the Paris Agreement have not reduced the fossil fuels production and use of Russia, China and other BRICS. Meanwhile, the U.S. Climate Policies are weakening our country and including military preparedness.(50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 71, 72)
10. Big Tech and Social Media
The influence of Big Tech and Social Media is well known. The involvement and cooperation with government is concerning. Especially when the topic of social credit scores and control over our lives as is experienced in China. Therefore, it is only mentioned as everyone has a very good idea of the influence of Tik Tok, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. Especially on the younger generation.
Conclusion
The 2024 election is important to save America. This is not hyperbole. The alliances of the Deep State, entrenched Bureaucrats in our government, open borders, U.N. control of energy policy and ever greater influence from non-elected officials has our country on a path to destruction. The late Donn Dears wrote about a dozen books warning us about Net Zero policies. It was Donn Dears in one of his last conversations with me that said, “Dick, We have got to win this battle”. Yes we do Donn, RIP. You may not like Donald Trump’s mean Tweets or his sarcasm, however, there is no doubt about his policies are Pro-America and keeping our Pro-Constitutional Republic. I wrote on the “Saving America from Destruction, the Real Issues that Matter”. (111) Keeping in mind, Energy provides the basis for everything we do. Energy Independence and practical energy policies are a large part of keeping our freedoms. Please read some of the 113 references provided below.
Book: “Merchants of Despair” by Robert Zubrin, on Radical Environmentalists, Criminal Pseudo-Scientists and the Fatal Cult of Antihumanism: Published 2012 by Encounter Books and again in 2016 by the Heartland Institute
Sheldon Whitehouse’s new book where he will claim the opposition party does what he and his party have done very effectively, for decades: “The Scheme, where He accuses Republicans of using Dark Money”, when in fact, the Democrats do it much more: https://thenewpress.com/books/scheme
America uses right at 100 Quadrillion Btus of Primaryenergy each year.(12 &13) We have used right at this amount of total Primary Energy for over 20 years. The entire world uses about 600 Quadrillion BTUs of total Primary energy. The energy systems to provide this indispensable primary energy are beyond huge and so large and complicated that it is difficult to describe in words. In this post, I will attempt to demystify the immensity of the energy systems we depend on.
Energy on Which We Depend
Remember the last hurricane or winter storm that killed your power and made gasoline short in supply? It seems to take a traumatic experience such as severe weather for us to appreciate the importance of energy. Whether for heating in the winter, for gasoline to take a road trip, cooking hamburgers on the BBQ or cooling our homes in the heat of summer. Like many things in life, “Energy is not missed until it is unavailable”.
Dr. Robert Hargraves wrote an excellent article entitled, “Energy IS the Economy” for Grid Brief in Nov. 2022. (48) In the Developed world affordable, reliable and affordable energy is vital to sustaining Industrial production, commerce and our economy. Energy is a prerequisite for almost anything and everything we do or have come to depend on.
315 Million BTUs/Person/Year
Each American uses on average, about 315 million Btus (BTU=British Thermal Unit) of Primary Energy each year. This averages about 863,000 Btus per capita, each day. The purpose of this article is to explain the importance of “Energy” in our everyday activities. Folks that are not involved as employees in the energy business may not have a comfortable understanding of the relationship of Primary Energy in BTUs (British Thermal Units) and work. So, let’s take a look at the fundamental energy equivalence of BTUs and work. One Btu=778 Foot Pounds of work. What is a BTU? It takes 1 BTU to raise one pound of water 1 degrees F.
Example: A pint of water is about one pound. So visualize warming a pint of water from 32 degrees F. to 212 degrees F., (That will require 180 BTUs. 212-32=180)
Another equivalent to keep in mind; One kWh of electricity is 3,413 BTUs. These equivalents are at 100% conversion efficiency. Since our grandparents days, we have come to use and depend on a lot of thermal energy to replace animal and human muscle power. The replacement of muscle power with heat engines fueled by energy has served Humanity very well over the last 130 years. Both in heat engines for transportation and for Bulk Electric Power Generation by Electric Utilities. Replacement of muscle power with thermal energy has come a long way since my grandparents days.
This commentary is my attempt to explain the vastness of the energy systems that have created the high quality of life on which we depend and take for granted, thanks to heat engines and thermal power plants.
Why BTU’s? (British Thermal Units)
Government energy statistics are expressed in BTUs, and the BTU equivalent of wind and solar are calculated and converted to BTUs. Example; One kWh of wind or solar is equivalent to 3,413 BTU. International journals and reports may use other energy units, such as kWh’s or Joule’s. In the U.S. our EIA (Energy Information Administration) uses BTUs as the unit of energy for data reporting.
Dr. Lars Shernikau has published an excellent article explaining Primary Energy in his article, “Primary Energy is Still King”(34) I recommend reading this, because he has done an excellent explanation to provide an understanding of primary energy and renewables. Here.
100 Quadrillion BTUs/Year
Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, wind and solar are included in the LLNL chart below to total 100.3 Quadrillion BTUs of Primary Energy for the year 2022. It is my hope that this post will help the reader to get your arms around the vastness of our supplies of Primary energy and what it does for us. A reminder: Electricity is Secondary Energy and Primary Energy is required to generate Electricity. Each Kilowatt Hour requires 3,413 BTUs at 100% efficiency. The most efficient GTCC generating plants are about 60% efficient so that is about 5,690 BTUs of input to the gas turbine at steady loads at the most efficient load point to produce one kWh of electricity. A deeper dive into Heat Engines and heat rates are topics for another time. Suffice it to say, we use a lot of primary energy for electricity generation, a little more than a third (37.7 %) of the total primary energy America consumes.
Transportation, Industrial, Residential and Commercial Energy Demand
We also use a lot of primary energy for transportation, food production, residential heating, cooking, commercial and industrial production. Long story short….reasonable cost, abundant and reliable energy powers our high quality of life.
Examples and Reminders of the Immensity of the Energy Systems on which we Depend
The U.S. Electric Grid has been described by the Smithsonian (and others) as “the Largest Machine Ever Built“, here.
The quantity of motor fuels used each year was described in 2007 by the National Petroleum Council chairman, Lee Raymond,
“As enough to fill 150 billion one gallon cans that if placed end to end, would circle the earth 1,000 times”(2)
That was 2007. In the year 2022 motor fuels increased and the U.S. used 209 billion gallons of gasoline and Diesel fuel.(3,4) Gasoline and Diesel are forms of Primary energy. That is a 39% increase of motor fuels in 15 years.
America uses right at 20 million barrels of oil each day. The total petroleum use in Quadrillion BTUs energy is about 36 Quadrillion Btus/year. This is about 36% of the Primary Energy we use. Below is a photo of me and the 48″ Alyeska (Alaska) Pipeline. This 48″ line is above ground to protect the frozen Tundra. The Alyeska Pipeline at its peak flow delivered about 2 million barrels per day of crude oil from the north slope of Alaska. It would take ten pipelines the size of the 48″ Alaska Pipeline to provide the petroleum needed to supply 36% of America’s total Primary Energy demand and needs.
Perhaps you can visualize in your mind, ten of these lined up side by side easier than you can imagine 150 Billion one gallon gasoline cans circling the earth 1,000 times? That is how much crude oil we need and depend on to provide a little over one third of our Primary energy needs. In addition to transportation energy needs, petroleum is also used as the feedstock for plastics and thousands of other products. Ron Stein has written much on the thousands of products derived from petroleum. Here is one of his excellent articles, “Are Politicians Oblivious to the Need for Crude Oil, or are they Intentionally Sending Us Back to the 18th Century?“.(49)
Alaska Pipeline and Dick Storm, photo used in numerous Presentations
How About Coal. Is Coal Still Important?
For electricity generation Coal provided over 50% of the primary energy to generate U.S. electricity up till about 2011. In 2011 about 22% of America’s Primary Energy was provided by coal. (This is a fact). In 2011 the total Primary energy use was 107 Quadrillion BTUs and coal provided 21% of the total. Since 2012 much of the coal power generation fuel has been replaced by natural gas. Here below, is the EIA Total Energy Flow Chart for 2011. This supports my statement that America has depended on about 100 Quadrillion BTUs of energy for decades. In the 2011 example, Total Primary Energy was 107 Quadrillion BTUs.
Today coal fuel provides about 20% of the fuel used for electric power generation. To be exact, coal provided 9.9 % of the total primary energy in 2022. Coal use provided the fuel for about 20% of the electricity generation in that year.
Primary & Secondary Energy
Please note: When I discuss Primary Energy and Electricity generation percentages, it may seem confusing. Both statements above are correct. Coal provides fuel for 20% of our electricity generation and coal provides 9.9% of our total Primary Energy. The apparent discrepancy is the reporting of total Primary Energy and Total Fuel used for electric power generation. Electricity is important and it represents the consumption of 37.7% of total primary energy, including renewables. The LLNL chart above shows the other major consumption of energy for Industrial, Commercial and Residential uses. The difference between Primary Energy and Secondary Energy is important, but this is rarely explained when the term, “Electrify Everything” is used.
Coal Fuel for Electricity Generation
Now let’s get back to the importance of coal. Today about 10% (I rounded 9.91% to 10) of the U.S. primary energy is provided by coal. This is about 10 Quadrillion BTUs. The photo below is a coal car which holds 100 tons of coal. The length of the coal car, coupling to coupling is about 55 feet. The heat content of 100 tons of western Powder River Basin coal at 9,000 BTU’s per pound is about 1,800 million Btus per coal car. Dividing 1,800 million Btus into 10 Quadrillion results in a train of coal cars about 52,083 miles long. Long enough to circle the earth two times. That is just the coal used in the U.S.A. in 2022 and we used more than twice that much in 2011. (see 2011 Sankey Diagram above)
A typical 100 Ton coal car. The energy equivalence of 100 tons of 9,000 Btu/# coal is 1,800 million BtusTypical Unit Train of about 100 coal cars, each loaded with about 100 tons of coal. The total energy of a 100 coal cars is about 180,000 million Btus or .00000018 Quadrillion Btu
Again, to supply 10 Quadrillion Btus of coal for electricity generation in the U.S. the coal would fill a train that would circle the earth two times. Just as a matter of reference, the amount of coal used in China is more than five times the coal consumed in the U.S.A. According to World O Meter, China uses about 4.4 Billion metric tons/year. According to the IEA, Coal was the primary energy used to provide 60% of China’s electricity in 2022. (22) Coal is the top fuel for electricity generation in most Developing countries and including China and India. As shown below, in 2023 the world used an all time record of coal use.
On January 6, 2024, here is a screen shot of the MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) Energy RTO. Note that although coal is not believed to be needed by government Bureaucrats, the MSM and environmental activists, it is providing almost 40% of the electricity being used this day at 0600. A post on the Count on Coal Blog is aptly entitled, “2024 A Critical Year for Grid Reliability” which provides another take on the importance of coal (20). Also POWER Magazine Commentary,“EPA’s No-Win Rule for the Electricity Grid” July 2nd, 2024. (50)
Here is an update from Jan. 2024 on coal power in the Midwest from the website of MISOEnergy.org.
What does the rest of the world understand that we do not? More coal was used in 2023 than all of history.
Coal remains important in America. The Count on Coal Blog offers many anecdotes, data and environmental policy assessments. (20)
Especially in winter, because snow storms will likely be even more difficult for electric Utilities to keep up with demand. In addition to the problems of snow blocking solar collectors, ice on wind turbine blades make them less reliable as well. It is worth recalling the winter storm in Feb. 2021 which created Blackouts in Texas and a near collapse of the entire ERCOT Grid. Over 246 people were killed during that storm. Many as a result of the rolling Blackouts. I wrote my views on the missing 6,000 MW of coal plant capacity that had recently been shut down, on this blog.(51)
How About Natural Gas?
How do we visualize 33 Quadrillion Btus in natural gas? About 1/3 of America’s Primary energy is provided by natural gas and about 50% of our electricity is expected to be generated from natural gas in 2024. So, to get an idea of the enormity of the importance of natural gas, let’s try looking at pipelines providing natural gas across the U.S.A. Here is the EIA map of Interstate natural gas pipelines in the U.S.
Regulations and Environmental NGO’s hate pipelines and do all that they can to restrict their expansion, but that is a story for another day. (21) Suffice it to say, natural gas is very, very important to America in 2024. It is projected that in 2024 natural gas will provide the fuel for about 50% of all U.S. electric power production.
It is difficult to visualize the enormity of the natural gas flows from the map. Also difficult to visualize 33 Quadrillion BTU of invisible natural gas flowing through a pipe. So, let’s try this, a photo of an LNG Tanker. Natural gas stored as a liquid at about minus 263 degrees F.
Liquified LNG is about 1/600th the volume of the gas as used for power generation or cooking.
This LNG Tanker holds about 4,770,000 cubic feet of natural gas, when vaporized for use. This is equivalent to about 5 trillion Btus. This equates to about the same energy equivalence of three Unit Trains, each comprised of 100 coal cars.
To visualize 33 Quadrillion Btus, picture 6,000 ships such as the one shown above.
So, how do you visualize an armada of 6,000 ships like that shown above? Try this. If 6,000 ships, each 950 feet long were placed in a line, stem to stern touching, they would reach over 1,070 miles. So a continuous line of ships from just south of Philadelphia in the Delaware Bay would reach to Miami. This would represent the quantity of natural gas, stored in super dense liquid form used in one year. This line of ships would be equivalent to the natural gas burned in the U.S. in 2022. In 2024 gas consumption will be even greater.
The latest LNG ships are larger at about 175,000 cubic meter capacity, such as the ship Pan American shown below.
Energy use is directly related to economic output and the quality of life we enjoy. Economic prosperity is another subject, so let’s stick to the immensity of the quantity of energy that we need and depend on. If you are interested in the relationship of energy and economic prosperity, there are numerous references below. ( 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Getting back to electricity and the largest machine ever built. Yes, the Electric Grid is huge and complicated. However, huge as it is, the Electric Grid uses about one third of the total primary energy used in the U.S. The other two thirds is used for transportation, Industrial production, heating, cooling, cooking and commercial uses. “Electrifying Everything” as promoted by numerous non technically trained politicians, NGO’s, wealthy Philanthropists and well intentioned corporations, is simply not possible.
Paraphrasing Lee Raymond’s comments in 2007,
“It will take an enormous effort and a lot of time to replace the current energy systems”(2)
Take a look/listen to Lee Raymond for about two minutes. Start at minute # 8 here.
From Dick Storm presentation to Rotary Club, Dec. 7, 2023 (14)
Primary Energy Use of the U.S. 100 Quadrillion Btus/Year
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Sankey Diagram of U.S. Energy Flows for the year 2022 is copied below. The energy use is reported in British Thermal Units so that one unit of energy can express all common forms of energy that we use. The energy sources reported are wind, solar, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, Biomass and Geothermal. Interestingly to me is the fact that America has used a steady flow of about 100 Quadrillion Btus of energy (+/- 10 Quads) for about the last 25 years. This in spite of population growth and increased electrification of nearly everything we do. The chart below shows the flows of sources of PRIMARY Energy.
Hydrogen is not on the chart but there is a lot of talk about the future of hydrogen as a fuel. Let me just state for now that hydrogen, like electricity, is another form of Secondary Energy. It takes about 3 or 4 units of Primary Energy to produce one unit of hydrogen energy.
The next graph is also from the U.S. Department of Energy and it shows the total energy use by fuel since the Founding of America. The key point is: Over 90% of the Primary energy we depend on each day and use, is sourced from conventional sources of gasoline, Diesel, natural gas, Jet Fuel, coal, nuclear, Hydroelectric and Biomass. Only 5.71% of the Total Energy used in 2022 came from wind and solar.
Electricity and the Grid, “The Largest Machine in the World”
The following is copied from a post by Bloomberg and I give full credit to Bloomberg and the author. It is well stated and I thought apropos to explain the Immensity of the electric grid. From Bloomberg and to be fair, this refers to the electric grids all over the world, not only the U.S.A. …..
“Bloomberg 2 May 2023 Merryn Somerset Webb There is something attractive about things that are complicated, boring and expensive. What is the biggest thing that mankind has ever built? All the obvious answers to this pub-quiz question are wrong. It is not the Great Wall of China, nor the Three Gorges Dam, nor the Large Hadron Collider. It is also not Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport. In fact, the feat belongs to something rather prosaic: the global electricity grid. The total length of the distribution grid globally is estimated to be some 56 million miles, though it’s hard to be sure. The circumference of the world is an around 24,900 miles. Our electricity transmission lines can g o around our world 2,250 times over. So it’s big — very big. It’s also in an awful lot of trouble. ……So next time someone from the Green Party or government tells you that the energy transition is cost-free, ignore them. It most definitely is not. You can’t double the size of the biggest thing in the world for nothing.” Emphasis on the last line by me.
However, because the IRA codifies the “Green New Deal” we cannot exactly ignore government as we watch them destroy the largest machine ever built. I wrote about the Great State of Hawaii a few years ago. Hawaii adopted the “Green New Deal” several years before Congress passed the IRA. Unlike California or other states, Hawaii is an “Energy Island”. Therefore, the consequences of the Green New Deal are experienced faster. Take a look at what I wrote a few years ago and check the current electricity costs in Hawaii. Also, an update here.(53) Then you decide how inexpensive renewables are. (52)
Conclusions
Replacing the energy of 100 Quadrillion BTUs with wind and solar is impossible. The foregoing described the immensity of petroleum use and the electric grid. Also, the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Sankey Diagrams show energy flows for the years 2011 and 2022. In the 2022 LLNL diagram, wind and solar provide less than 6% of the primary energy used. This meager, less than 6% contribution of intermittent power is after decades of subsidies.
All fuels, including coal should be included in America’s energy mix. Why? For many reasons, here are four; 1. The U.S. is the Saudi Arabia of coal and we have more high quality fuel within our borders than any other country, 2. A 60 day coal pile on the plant site is the best proven energy storage known, 3. Coal plants provide Dispatchable Bulk Power and can run 24/7 300 plus days per year and 4. Coal generated power is affordable. Just check the electricity prices of states that generate most of their power from coal and compare to the electricity rates in Hawaii and California.(57)
My concern is that we have not built a new clean coal plant since 2013 and the U.S. manufacturing supply chain is threatened. Not only manufacturing facilities, but also including skilled engineers, technicians and welders. The recent history of the decline of the supply-chain for nuclear power plants is an example. In the 1970’s, America had the largest and best manufacturing supply chain for nuclear power plants. Over a period of about 40 years America built nuclear power production capability for about 20% of America’s total electricity production. 1949-1989) Most of the manufacturing that built the robust, reliable and safe nuclear fleet are gone. We should not let this happen to the supply chain for clean coal plants. Remember the names Combustion-Engineering, Westinghouse, Allis-Chalmers, DeLaval, Foster-Wheeler and more…? Thankfully, we still have Babcock & Wilcox, but much downsized from when I worked at B&W in the 1960’s. I wrote on this blog about the Rise and Fall of Nations from the perspective of nuclear power systems manufacturing and some photos of U.S. Reactor and steam generator manufacturing from the 1960’s are included. We can “Hope” for sanity in public education and government Regulations so that some day American manufacturing will be great again. (54)
Energy policy in the U.S. as one well respected energy issues publication author stated, “American Energy Policy is a Mess”.
Worse yet, the average voter has been indoctrinated with misinformation that the Climate has been altered by the burning of fossil fuels and the future of the earth is in peril because of combustion of fossil fuels. The largest scientific hoax in the history of mankind.
On enemies, Sun Tzu said “Know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril”.(1)
Most of the American people have no idea of who the enemies of coal are. In fact, I worked in the coal power industry for about thirty years before I became aware of some of them. The true facts are, that there are multiple entities and organizations that are enemies. Let’s call them “Carbon Hating Tribes”. These Tribes include rogue Bureaucrats (alphabet agencies of the U.S. Federal Gov’t) politicians, Well funded NGO’s, Public education K-12 plus many Universities, Public Broadcasting, Billionaires who do not understand the importance of Domestically produced Primary energy, U.S. elected politicians, the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, the MSM, the Entertainment Industry, celebrities and foreign participants that wish to weaken the U.S.A. I tried to capture some of the prominent anti Carbon Tribes in one meme which I have used in my public presentations. Most of the leaders and the members of these anti-coal Tribes, are NOT elected by the U.S. citizens . I have written several previous commentaries naming some of the individuals and organizations. (6, 207, 208) A Congressional report also outlined the escalation of the war on coal during the McCarthy years at EPA in the Obama Administration. (10)
More on the influencers of Net-Zero Carbon before. Here,here and here. After years of observations from the industry and research, I am of the strong opinion that the priorities and goals of “Climate Policies” are really not about improving human health or saving the planet. Thomas Shepstone captured my thoughts in his Substack entitled, “Energy Matters If You Value the Life You Now Have and Don’t Want to Live Under Socialism” (210)
Those of us that understand energy and electricity generation are a small minority that I estimate at 3% of the population. The “Good Guys” that understand energy and electricity generation are vastly outnumbered and out shouted. The enemies of coal are also the enemies of Liberty, Freedom and Capitalism.
Are You Worried About the Future of the U.S.A.?
This excerpt from my previous blog post and it is worth repeating. This is from my commentary entitled, “Are You Worried about the Future of the U.S.A.?” I posted this the day after inauguration day, January 21, 2021.
“The November 2020 Presidential Election to put it politely did not end with the best interests of America as a priority. President Biden disingenuously said at the inauguration, that he wants to unite the country. Then he went to the Whitehouse to sign Executive Orders to Cancel the foundation of our economic growth during President Trump’s four years. He is in the highest office of the world and he has plans to use the power of that office to do as much harm as possible to America. I don’t know why the Democrat Party, Liberals & the Mainstream Media can be so hateful of America. But they are.
Their Goals seem to be to Dismantle America’s #1 Position in the world as a Beacon of freedom and to harm or kill the largest Economy on the planet. Biden’s first step to weaken the U.S.A. is to reduce Domestic Energy Production. Reasonable cost energy is a huge component of world manufacturing competitiveness. Abundant production of reasonable cost energy also creates and sustains “Jobs” too! To put it into in a four letter word Mr. Biden may understand.
I will be perfectly honest, I am concerned for the future of America. Here are some of the reasons why I am concerned…...”Continue reading on blog post here
Background of The War on Coal
I have followed the war on coal since the 1990’s and the enemies of coal have gained strength and political power. Now with a rogue, out of control EPA and Biden as President, they have near Totalitarian Control over the entire government. In fact, Biden’s #1 Priority is/are the bogus, “Climate Policies” which have weaponized all of the government swamp Bureaucrats and all alphabet soup agencies including the EPA, BLM, SEC, Dept. of Defense, DOJ and more. This is a War on the American people and America’s productive capacity. This is a war that we must win. I have completed presentations to groups and written on the beginnings of the war on coal since about 1995 when it first dawned on me that these people in the EPA are trying to kill coal. Yes, it started during the Bill Clinton Presidency when Carol Browner was EPA Chief, and was escalated with Obama. (See the 2015 Congressional report on the Obama Carbon Mandate(10) , Here. ) Up to about 2012 about 50% of our electricity was generated by coal fueled power plants and I thought it was inexplicable and not possible that the government would wage a continuing war on the American Treasure of coal. Since 2012 over 102,000 MW’s of reliable, affordable, Dispatchable coal power generation capacity has been shut down. I presented this at the ENERUM energy Forum in Columbus, OH in 2022. (215) A modern, new clean coal plant has not been built since 2013, yet hundreds have been shut down and Demolished. (11, 12, 13, 14, 215) The two photos below are typical of how U.S. Utilities dispose of coal plants. This one is Genoa #3 of Dairyland Power, near Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Yes, it was old, but it should have been replaced with a new coal plant. The other is the Duke Sutton #3 which I was the manufacturer’s lead startup engineer in 1972.
The U.S. Government is Choosing Euthanasia for our Energy & Electricity Generation Infrastructure. Why?
I saw a bizarre story in the “Free Press” about a perfectly healthy young woman that has decided to end her life. The article title: “I’m 28. And I’m Scheduled to Die in May.“I did not make this up, read it here in the Free Press. After a dozen years of watching Obama, Biden, Swamp Bureaucrats, NGO’s, the MSM, Entertainment and energy ignorant but wealthy celebrities demonize coal….the planned death of Zoraya ter Beek seems similar. The big difference is, Zoraya Ter Beek has made her decision by herself. The American people are having Euthanasia of our energy and electricity infrastructure forced on us and likely to cause economic harm, pain, suffering and deaths of our American citizens. Being done in plain sight, eyes wide open and the perpetrators have about 50% of the voters support. Wake up America!
So much for “We the People” having a say into policies that impact all of us and all that we do. (Note the meme above of energy policy influences, none were elected by the people of the U.S.)Think about loss of power, loss of gasoline availability and cancellation of public transportation. Loss of heating, HVAC, refrigeration and just about everything we depend on, including food production and distribution. Dr. Robert Hargraves wrote an excellent article on “Energy IS the Economy“. It is here in Grid Brief, Nov. 2022. I live in Hilton Head, SC. The last time I remember losing power and having gasoline shortages was Hurricane Mathew in 2016. It has been very easy for many residents to forget what loss of power meant for just a few days. In February 2021, Texas suffered a massive statewide Blackout. That was in winter and cold kills more people than summer heat. The Texas Blackout killed a minimum of 246 people. I predict that, If the EPA and the Biden Administration is not reined in, more people will die in the near future. Why? Because of Bureaucratically enacted and foolish Climate Policies. Keep in mind electricity supply is comfortably easy to sustain during the spring and fall months. The challenge is PEAK Demand periods in the summer and winter. Perhaps that is one reason the EPA and the administration release these excessively restrictive rules in the spring and fall? I wrote my commentary on “Threats to the Grid” last month. It is here. An excerpt of that commentary listing the ten largest threats to Grid Reliability follow. These are based on my experience and my opinion:
The top 10 “Threats” are ranked, with the greatest risks first. All of these risks could be mitigated if energy and environmental policies were in effect the same as they were in 2012 when the U.S. had amongst the cleanest air in the industrialized and Developed world. There is a lot of blame to be spread around, but these policies are threats to Grid reliability.
Government Agency Climate Policies, EPA at the top, SEC, BLM, DOD, DOJ and all of government is wrongly applying “Climate First” policies rather than the Best policies for America and younger Americans to experience the “American Dream” as my generation did
Creation of RTO’s that absolved most utilities from planning for future electric generation growth, ie, plants can be shut down without a Utility being required to replace it with like, Dispatchable generation
Environmental Extremist/Activists that use enormous wealth to demonize carbon (and support (D) politicians against the Best interests of the U.S.A.
Wealthy Business people who fund NGO’s to Decarbonize the western world
The United Nations IPCC, Agenda 21, Agenda 30 and other so called “Climate Policies”
The World Economic Forum and the members who under the guise of saving the planet are forcing policies of De-Growth, De-Industrialization and Energy Poverty on all of the people of the western world, but not the BRICS, and other countries aligned with Russia and China
“Woke” or “Politically Correct” companies including electric Utilities and Co-Operatives that espouse solar and wind power as being capable of replacing coal, oil, gas and nuclear energy
Public Education, K-12 and Universities that promote climate scare tactics to sway public opinion toward accepting higher energy costs and reduced reliability of energy and electricity
World Bank, IMF, Large Banking and Investment companies that determine which infrastructure projects to finance
Terrorists or criminal acts of sabotage When I first wrote this commentary, I placed terrorsists as last in the hierarchy of risks. Now, with millions of illegal immigrants from dozens of countries, some that are enemies of the U.S. Perhaps the priority should be higher. It is in fact, a risk to Grid reliability and Green Policies have made the Grid more vulnerable to attack.
If you are interested, here are three previous blog posts on the beginning of the War on Coal and the some of the individuals and groups that have been involved. Here,hereand here. The IER has prepared an excellent report which enumerates on the vast energy resources within America’s borders. (6)
The American Coal Council Letter to Elected Officials-May 17, 2024
Emily Arthun, President of the American Coal Council prepared a letter for supporters to sign and submit to Congress. The letter is copied below and I support Ms. Arthun’s comments 100%! I have submitted to my elected officials:
“Dear Senator Graham, Senator Scott and Congresswoman Mace,
As you know, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a number of new regulations, such as the Clean Power Plan 2.0 (CPP 2.0), the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), new rules around coal combustion residuals (CCR), and others that will have direct and detrimental impact on coal-fired power plants and the people that depend on them for reliable and affordable power. I urge you to hold agencies accountable for overreach and careless rulemaking which is intended to force coal plant closures and endangers the reliability of our electric grid.
Coal supplies affordable power when other sources cannot. It plays a critical role during times of intense demand, such as during cold snaps and heat waves, ensuring that the lights stay on and the grid remains reliable. According to recent reports, electric utilities have nearly doubled their forecasts of how much additional power they’ll need by 2028 given the torrid pace of data center development and other manufacturing demands that are putting new pressures on the grid. Despite the promise of renewable energy technologies, coal remains a critical energy source that must remain in use to prevent crippling energy costs to low-income families and to ensure energy shortages do not put unmanageable pressures on the grid.
The EPA has crafted a suite of rules specifically designed to force the closure of reliable and efficiently operating coal plants. These plants are the primary source of power generation in many states, and a significant source of grid-saving baseload power across the country. Further, the EPA issued these rules while conducting zero analysis of the collective impact of the new rules on grid reliability. EPA’s rules fail to account for the fact that electricity prices are increasing above the rate of inflation, demand is expanding, grid experts are already issuing warnings concerning plant closures, and there is no adequate replacement ready for the sorely needed, dispatchable generating capacity coal provides. Further shuttering coal generation will have a devastating impact to communities and our economy.
Thank you for considering my concerns, and I hope you will take swift action to support reliable and affordable energy for United States citizens and industry.”
I hope each reader will send a similar letter to your elected officials. The EPA and extremists are at War with the American People. We the People MUST win this final battle.
America is Blessed With Enormous Natural Resources of Critical Minerals and Including Coal, Uranium, Oil and Natural Gas. We Should Use them All!
Why would “We the People”...Not use the God given natural resources that America is Blessed with? A good question. My previous commentaries have expounded on the individuals, NGO’s, and others that have created the insane Net-Zero Carbon policies. Because I have written so much on this, I will not repeat my concerns and some would say, my rant. However, if you are interested, here are fourteen blog posts that attempt to show who and how the anti-American Climate Policies have come to be. The Biden Climate Policies must be reversed to win the War on America’s Productive capacity and the Best interests for the American People;
Remember the poem by Martin Niemoller to describe events leading up to the Holocaust? We could paraphrase and say: First they came for coal…..
FIRST THEY CAME
First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak outBecause I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me.
There is a parallel strategy by the enemies of coal. Today it is a war on coal, later they will (actually, they already are) attack natural gas and oil, your freedom of transportation, what you eat, how you cook and more.. Even worse, the forces against coal are also against the one zero carbon source of carbon-free dependable, Dispatchable Bulk Power, nuclear. The Sierra Club and other extremist NGO’s have been opposed to nuclear power. So, if it is not protecting human health or the environment, then what is their motive? My friend Thomas J. Shepstone has an answer in a Substack post we corroborated on titled, “Energy Matters If You Value the Life You Now Have and Don’t Want to Live Under Socialism“
Please Consider…..
Do yourself and all Americans a favor. If you already understand energy and electricity generation, help teach those that are not well informed. My estimate is that only about 3% of the American population really understands Primary energy, electricity generation and energy economics. Here are some examples of my attempts.(23, 30, 31)
If you are one of the 97% that does not understand energy and electricity generation, (or have been indoctrinated to demonize carbon) please ask me or anyone else who does understand energy to please take time to explain how government policies and cultural indoctrination has placed America on a path of self destruction.
Yours very truly,
Dick Storm, May 18, 2024
If you are interested in digging down for more research, then here are hundreds of references to support my claim that the EPA and Environmental Zealots have America on a Net Zero Path to Destruction:
The Great State of South Carolina is usually thought of as a “Conservative” state. However, when it comes to applying destructive “Climate Policies”, South Carolina is no more conservative than is California or New York. So, I thought I would repost my comments on the Santee-Cooper IRP.
It is my understanding that the major Utilities providing electricity to S.C. (Dominion Energy and Santee-Cooper) are planning to build a major natural gas fueled power plant at the site of the old Canadys Coal Plant, near Walterboro. I posted my thoughts on this on LinkedIn, here. Also, Thomas Shepstone created a Blog post on substack based on my LI post, entitled, “”A Balanced Energy Portfolio is Critical but South Carolina Doesn’t Seem Get It” . It is here. Thank you Tom!
Since this article was first published, announcements of new Data Centers and increasing EV charging has caused alarm that more generating capacity will be required than what was thought a year or two ago. Imagine that, when policies to “Electrify Everything” are applied, electricity Demand grows…..(23, 25 )
This is an update on my comments to the IRP development for my local Regional Utility, Santee-Cooper. The last draft IRP has been published for comment and the figure below shows the expected load growth up to 2042. This Figure is from page 28 of the IRP presentation updated in April 2023. Shockingly, there is serious planning to shut down all coal plants by 2034 without having a Balanced Portfolio of replacement Bulk Power Supply that is Dispatchable, affordable and of reliable supply. Some energy news/issues authors, when discussing energy policy, speak metaphorically of “Falling off the Cliff” The illustration of projected load growth for Santee-Cooper is an example of planning to “Fall off the Cliff” by (NOT) Balancing Bulk Power Supply & load Demand. (The graph reminds me of the old saying, “Failing to Plan is a Plan for Failure”. How? By not providing adequate new generation capacity as older, reliable, dependable and Dispatchable coal units are retired. This is typical all across the U.S. and the western free world(6,10,14,15,15,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,27)
I had hoped that the more conservative, level headed General Assembly of S.C. would have better sense than to follow the “Woke policy” of the U.S. government and other states. There is still time to wake up to reality. (5,8)
The slide below is from my ENERUM presentation, August 2022. Data and chart are from the July 2022 NERC Report.(10) This shows 102 GW of Dispatchable & Reliable coal and nuclear plants shut down since 2011. This is shown to illustrate the fact that Santee-Cooper seems to be following the same destructive path as other utilities in the U.S.
Can a Great 80+ Year Record of Reliability and Affordability be Sustained While Retiring Coal Plants? Is S.C. Self Sabotaging our Great Record of Reasonable Cost, Reliable Bulk Power Supply? Why? Can the Legislature Stop the Madness?
It is my understanding, that the management of Santee-Cooper has been directed to formulate a plan to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050. Anyone that knows me, knows that I do not agree with this plan and my posts on this blog and my public presentations have clearly shown my analysis of the madness of Net Zero Carbon & the War on Coal. I have written letters to Santee-Cooper, the Governor, Congressional representatives and my S.C. Senator. Most of these have been made public. Myself and others that have knowledge of energy and electricity generation know that the path to Net Zero carbon is not possible by 2050.(4,5,6,7,8)Not without severe disruption of our way of life, our economy, industrial output, controlling inflation and national security. It is important for our state to generate electricity reliably, with high quality frequency and voltage control, from Dispatchable generators to meet customer Demand and do this 24/7 affordably under all weather conditions…..This has been done by Santee-Cooper for almost 90 years. Thanks to the reliability of coal, nuclear, natural gas generation and hydro-electric. Why would the Legislature force this fine Utility to sabotage its great record? The chart below is from the 2020 IRP. This lists the Dispatchable, Reliable, Affordable generating assets that have created and continue to provide a great record. In essence, the apparent path of the IRP update is to replace 61% of the reliable coal generation with “Intermittent” solar and wind generation.
Path to Jeopardizing S.C. Bulk Power Affordability, Reliability and Dispatchability
The S.C. Legislature has directed Santee-Cooper through “Act 90” to meet a net zero carbon goal by 2050.
The slide above is copied from the Santee-Cooper IRP presentation. My understanding is, that this is the direction ordered by the legislature. A plan to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050. (22)
There is active planning to not only shut down the 1,150 MW Winyah coal plant in 2028 but also to shut down the 2,350 MW Cross Coal plant about five years later so that in 2034 all coal plants will be shut down. This is shown on the slides below. Shutting down all coal plants by 2034, in my opinion, will jeopardize the very favorable record of reasonable cost, reliable and Dispatchable electricity Bulk Power Supply that has become associated with Santee-Cooper’s great reputation. Even more importantly, South Carolina’s excellent record of attracting and keeping a thriving industrial base within this region. Electricity intensive industries such as aluminum and steel manufacturers/Recyclers have thrived here as manufacturers in other states have ended operations and ceded U.S. manufactured steel and aluminum capacity to China.
Let me digress and quote Vaclav Smil’s statement on decarbonization. From Professor Smil’s book, “How the World Really Works” This applies to S.C. Too!
“The real wrench in the works: we are a fossil-fueled civilization whose technical and scientific advances, quality of life, and prosperity rest on the combustion of huge quantities of fossil carbon, and we cannot simply walk away from this critical determinant of our fortunes in a few decades, never mind years. Complete decarbonization of the global economy by 2050 is now conceivable only at the cost of unthinkable global economic retreat, or as a result of extraordinarily rapid transformations relying on near-miraculous technical advances.” Smil continues….
But who is going, willingly, to engineer decarbonization while we are still lacking any convincing, practical, affordable global strategy and technical means to pursue the latter? What will actually happen? The gap between wishful thinking and reality is vast, but in a democratic society no contest of ideas and proposals can proceed in rational ways without all sides sharing at least a modicum of relevant information about the real world, rather than trotting out their biases and advancing claims disconnected from physical possibilities.”
I have written other posts on this Blog to express my thoughts on competition with China and the importance for America to reshore U.S. manufacturing. This my friends, is in our backyard, our neighborhood, our state. This is a fact as stated above10). Premature retirements of reliable coal plants has been occurring at an alarming rate all across the U.S. Do we have to follow the same foolish self sabotaging policies of NY, Hawaii, Germany, the UK and Texas? I hope not. (12,13,14,15,)
Future Bulk Power Generation Capacity, The Apparent Plan to Self Sabotage Reliable Bulk Power Supply
Expected Outcome of Adding Over 4,250 MW of Non Dispatchable, Intermittent Bulk Power Supply
If all of the coal plants are retired and the portfolio shown above is used. Her are my predictions, based on the experiences of Hawaii, California, Texas, Germany, Denmark and the UK.
California is thought by some in government to be a model for the U.S. with regard to renewable energy policy. I do not agree. Here is a recent post by the CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute on how the California electric load (as reported by CAISO) has morphed from a “Duck Curve to a Canyon Curve”. Here is a screenshot of Dr. Mansoor’s post:
The “Canyon” curve represents high renewable generation during the peak sunshine of the day where California has bragging rights to sourcing almost all of their electricity from solar collectors. This is great until folks come home from work, mom starts dinner in her totally electric home and Dad plugs in his EV for charging. By early evening, electricity demand skyrockets out of the Canyon and must, for the sake of reliability, be generated to meet demand from Dispatchable sources.
Battery storage is not Bulk Power Supply. Batteries store electricity they do not generate electricity. Batteries are capable, depending on the size of the installation, of providing minutes or hours of backup. The largest battery storage in the U.S. is the Vistra Energy, Moss Landing facility in CA. The CAISO load for April 27 is expected to be about 30,000 MW. Note the largest battery storage facility in the world, Moss Landing, is 1600 MW which is about 5% of the Demand and only capable of providing minutes or hours of stored electricity.
Here is another post from another energy expert on LinkedIn. This graphic shows the electric generation through the day which includes battery storage.
The Moss Landing Storage facility is rated at 400/1600 MW and is capable of storing excess renewable generation for hours so that it can be used as the sun sets and kick in as the “Canyon Curve” and CA power supply and Demand Curves above become reality of demand. Emphasis should be on “Hours” it is not capable of backup during a days long cold severe winter storm, such as NC and SC experienced over Christmas week, 2022. Another example is the 150 MW Battery storage designed for Queensland, Australia and an artists depiction below. This is from an essay reviewing the NY electricity future written on the Blog, Watts Up With That.
Battery storage such as shown above is very costly. For example, the 150 MW facility above is projected to cost $250/kWh. Therefore for 12 hours of storage for 450 MW, the cost would be about $1.35 Billion dollars. Keep in mind, this is for 12 hours storage of only 450 MW of power. Winter storms such as the Christmas 2022 storm lasted longer than 12 hours and even very conservative, steeped in energy expertise Duke Energy, also with a great reputation for reliable electric service, had rolling Blackouts. Ditto for TVA(18,19,20,21,22,23).
When the sun is not shining and the wind not blowing, then the generation must be purchased from neighboring Utilities or generated with Dispatchable natural gas generation. The plan shown above includes 4,316 MW of natural gas generation. This combined with the 322 MW of Summer Unit #1 nuclear power totals 4,638 MW. The wind generators, though intermittent, could generate another 400 MW to total 5,038 MW. The projections of up to 9,000 MW Demand in 2050 (according to Santee-Cooper projections) then will require additional Dispatchable generation which is likely to be natural gas CT’s or Combined Cycle facilities. Think for example of the uncertain growth of Electric Vehicles. If much of transportation is “Electrified”, then the high range projections of about 9,000 MW peaks can be expected in 2050 or before. So, why would we kill the coal plants that have served South Carolinians so well?
This reminds me of my experiences working for CP&L in the 1970’s when the manager of Fossil Plant Engineering pointed to an oil fueled CT and proclaimed to me, then a young engineer, “That young man is a monument to poor planning”. Yes, as CP&L (That was before CP&L merged with Florida Progress and was later absorbed by Duke Energy). I see history repeating here as so much faith in renewables today is somewhat like the high expectations of nuclear being “Too Cheap to Meter” beliefs of the 1970’s. However, nuclear power eventually delivered. Wind and solar are not capable of replacing coal, nuclear and gas fueled Bulk Power Generation. In the 1970’s the Bulk Power Supply gaps were made up with quickly installed, oil fueled CT’s. Today, thanks to reliable, affordable natural gas, the backup generation, when solar and wind cannot deliver, is gas fueled CT’s or Combined Cycle plants. This is doable and satisfactory… providing that pipelines are of adequate capacity and natural gas remains affordable and Federal Regulations on drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing, pipelines and fuel supply infra-structure is expanded as needed, when it is needed. The Federal Government is wrong on their war on carbon and the natural gas resources just may not be as abundant in 2040 or 2050 as they are now. Because, the Federal Government currently highly regulates exploration, drilling, production and transport of any fossil fuels. The uncertainty of future primary energy supply is why a Balanced Generation Portfolio is important. A Balanced Energy Portfolio will include nuclear, coal, gas and renewables.
Have the Importance of Reserves Been Forgotten?
Santee-Cooper is a Regional Utility. In other states, such as PA, OH, WVA, NJ & DE many utilities the size of Santee-Cooper have joined RTO’s (Regional Transmission Operators) such as the PJM Interconnection. In the Midwest it is MISO (Midwestern Independent System Operator) With RTO’s, the electricity generation is shared across state lines and with different utilities with separation of the ownership of the generating plants and the transmission and distribution of the Bulk Power. This has eliminated accountability for individual utilities such as Philadelphia Electric, Potomac Electric Power Company, Public Service of NJ, PP&L and others to plan for Reserve Generation capacity. Therefore, there is no accountability for lack of reserves. I presented examples in my ENERUM talk slides(6) . There is some talk of Santee-Cooper joining a similar RTO with the Southeast Electric Exchange. In my strong opinion and based on the references listed below and my experiences, Santee-Cooper should plan for their own (Our own) reserves. Reserve generation from others states was depended on Christmas week 2022 by TVA and Duke Energy. Two fine utilities, also with great records from the past. But, the reserves from neighboring states were not available due to Demand exceeding supply. Reserves of 15-20% have always been important for reliability and to keep generation costs reasonable by not requiring the startup of backup power generation using high cost fuels such as Diesel or spot market gas. Donn Dears has written several books on this. Here is a graph from the book, “Clean Energy Crisis”, on the Reserve generation that was planned in 2018. However, Texas Blackouts in 2021 killed over 200 people. The ERCOT planners in 2018 had performed due diligence as Santee-Cooper is doing now with well respected consulting services to perform computer analyses of planned reserve margins. Do we need to learn the hard way as Texans did in 2021?
Facts to be Consider regarding Electricity and South Carolina’s High Quality of Life
The experiences of other states and other countries should be considered. I cited the examples of California, Texas and Hawaii above. Much analysis has been put into the planning by some very smart engineers and planners. However, computer modeling of the “Future” weather, fuel prices, EV use, population growth, industrial growth and other uncertainties, will likely create a need for other sources than wind and solar renewables. Just as Texas learned in 2021 after performing similar planning.
Primary Energy and Secondary Energy
Each S.C. resident on average uses about 300 million Btus per year in Primary Energy. If the trend to “Electrify Everything” continues, then more of the energy use currently provided at reasonble prices for transportation and our high quality of life, will be substituted for by (Secondary Energy) electricity or hydrogen. Such as more EV’s as the government is forcing us to use. Therefore, the growth of electricity demand may be much greater than expected. Thus, my title which relates to potential 9,000 MW Demand in 2050.
Over 50% of South Carolina’s electricity has been provided by nuclear power for decades. SC is rated as #3 in the nation in nuclear power generation. Nuclear power has served SC citizens and industry well. Safe, affordable, Base load capable at 90+% capacity factor and proven. However, the great record and importance of nuclear is not discussed by politicians or even utilities. For example, Palmetto Electric promotes the use of “Green Power” when in fact, it is a small contributor to the total portfolio of power generation. Here is an example of “Green indoctrination” by a bill insert that misleadingly leads citizens to believe that most of their power is from renewables:
The reality of our future electricity generation is that nuclear is the most important and least carbon intensive fuel for electricity generation. The plan to expand the Summer nuclear plant with two additional units was a very good idea. However, it was not to be because of poor management, limited trained talent and failure by Bankruptcy of Westinghouse, the primary contractor. The planned new Pee Dee coal plant near Florence was also a good idea and provided for natural growth of generating capacity to meet Demand. Pee Dee, (600 MW coal plant) in my understanding, was killed because of outside influence of Environmental Extremists. Had the Summer Units 2 & 3 and the 600 MW Pee Dee Clean Coal Plant been built as planned, then together these three units would have provided 2,800 MW of Base Load plus reliable, affordable and clean, Dispatchable Bulk Power. Including some reserve generation capacity.
Is the Great State of South Carolina going to sabotage our future just because other countries and states are doing so? I hope not.
Conclusions
The“War on Carbon” is based on politics and corrupted science. It is about Socialism and not about protecting the environment. The South Carolina Legislature seems to be just as gullible of the green myth as the current Federal government leaders.
The UN-IPCC is also Politically Driven and Not based on protection of the environment or to provide for the best interests of the people of the world. The Paris Climate Agreement is not in the best interests of America, the free western world or even for protection of the environment. It is politically motivated.
The path to Net Zero Carbon is steadily weakening our country. It will eventually destroy America’s productive capacity, lower our standard of living and place national security at risk. It will hasten the decline of America and the Rise of China.
America requires 100 Quadrillion BTUs of energy each year to sustain our quality of life. This is about 300 million BTUs per person, per year. Currently, after decades of subsidies, wind and solar provide about 5% of the total PRIMARY energy we use. Wind and solar cannot replace the other 95% of energy we need.
A Balanced Portfolio of Generating Capacity as is currently installed at Santee-Cooper generating plants, is the best path forward to sustain our high quality of life and economic prosperity. Reserve generation from dynamic generators is needed. Battery backup does not provide the same system voltage and frequency control as spinning reserve generator rotors do.
Electric generation planning in the 1970’s and 1980’s was better than today. There is no Energy Policy in America, there is only a decarbonization plan(4,5,6,7), there is no well thought out plan to replace the reliable and dispatchable generating capacity that is being shut down across the country. As during the 1970’s when nuclear units were late coming into service, the quickest available generating capacity was to install gas turbines. This is likely here in SC if the coal plants are retired before Dispatchable or Base Load replacement generation is installed.
Recommendations
Initiate a comprehensive Energy and Electricity Education program to provide 1. public education on energy, 2. Public School education on energy and electricity generation and 3. Public Technical/Trade School education to prepare youth for the construction workforce. Energy Education is recommendation #1 of the path forward. Public education is needed to reverse the myth that wind and solar can replace coal, gas and nuclear power generation. This is priority #1 because so many people are “Green Energy” indoctrinated.
Plan and continue to provide adequate Operations and maintenance funds for repairs and component replacements of the boilers, pumps, turbines and all of the equipment installed at the Cross Coal Plant. Keep the full 2,350 MW capacity so that it can be used until replacement generation is built and proven.
Construct the two unit 1,200 MW Pee Dee Coal plant that the components were purchased for in 2009, but never constructed.
Plan and begin construction on at least 2,000 MW of nuclear capacity. (as was planned for the Summer Units 2 & 3). Please re-read recommendation #1 above.
Plan and construct at least 1,750 MW of combined cycle gas plants
The coal, nuclear and gas plants 2,3 & 4 could replace the existing Cross coal plant capacity, thus continuing a “Balanced Generation Portfolio”
Summary
South Carolina can be an example of applied Common Sense Energy policies that can be a model for the U.S.A. and for the world. The current reasonable cost electricity in SC is amongst the lowest cost in the nation. Over 50% is generated from 4 nuclear plants with seven units. Four of these 7 nuclear units started up in the 1970’s. These four units operating licenses will expire in the 2030’s. They may be extended for another 20 or 30 years by the NRC but, plans should be made to construct new nuclear units for replacement of carbon free, Dispatchable, reasonable cost electricity.
Every time I present a course on energy and electricity generation the comments come back, “You did not discuss Climate Change and Decarbonization”. My response is, I am not an atmospheric scientist. I am an experienced power engineer. My beef with the current path toward Net Zero Carbon is, there is not an organized plan to replace the vitally important electric generation that has kept our country strong. If the politicians were really serious about reducing carbon dioxide emissions and “Sustaining” our high quality of living, then nuclear plants would be on a fast track to construction. After the Summer 2 & 3 failure, SC politicians are rightfully concerned about the financial risks. Plant Vogtle in GA is an example of a major budget overrun. Last cost estimate that I saw shows that Vogtle will cost $34 Billion and the original planned cost was less than half the ultimate cost. Also, it took ten years to just get one of the units running.
In my opinion and research, I feel the war on carbon is a plan initiated by the U.N. (including competitors/enemies of the U.S.A.) and Socialists that have an agenda other than clean power generation. If we wish to “Sustain our high quality of life“, then we need a reasonable cost, abundant and reliable electricity supply. Nuclear is the most accepted approach to achieving that goal. Three examples of applying a Balanced Energy Portfolio with a high percentage of nuclear are S.C. (1970-2030), Sweden and Finland. For research into why I believe the “War on Carbon” is political, not environmentally driven, I have included dozens of references below. My concern for Santee-Cooper and for America is to keep our Bulk Power Supply safe, secure, reliable and affordable. Also, sourced from a U.S. Supply-Chain.
The Supply-Chain of all of the future generation equipment, in an ideal scenario, would be from U.S. sources. Including manufacturing and construction talent. The workforce education is a weakness that I believe had part in the $9 Billion dollar Summer 2 & 3 construction debacle. We should learn from the past 50 years of electric generating history. The successes and the failures.
Respectfully submitted,
Dick Storm
References: (there are two sets of references below, SC Specific are second set)
Arshad Mansoor, CEO of EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) LinkedIn post, April 25, 2023 on the CAISO System. EPRI Post on the CAISO “Duck Curve changed to Canyon Curve” of Electric Load: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7056612841755181056-SCPK?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
In My opinion and research, the Path to Net Zero Carbon is Based on Corrupted Science and Political Ploys to Promote Socialism and One World Government, Not to Save the Planet or to Improve the Environment. Therefore, to substantiate this claim the following references are provided:
Elections have consequences and American voters can take a lesson from history. A case study of “Good Consequences” are chronicled in the recently published book, “The Peacemaker” which records the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. When Reagan took office in 1980 America was in decline both domestically and by world respect, the “Misery Index” (Unemployment+Seasonally adjusted Inflation Rate) was 19.23. During the Carter administration the Misery Index hit a high of 21.98. Energy was a huge issue then as it is now. More on Reagan and his accomplishments as President later.
Election year voter preferences have me worried. Why? because as I view the issues, the Biden and Congressional Democrats are simply on a path to Destroy America as we have come to know and enjoy it. Many voters seem to be influenced by social issues and the personality of politicians. The purpose of this commentary is to highlight the importance ofthe realIssues that Matter.
These 14 issues are what I think are the most important to keep America Great. Not social matters, the true issues that are vitally important for good results.
Issues That Matter
First and the most important issue on this list: Election Integrity. Election results must be 99%+ reliable (1)
Restore the nuclear family and Judeo-Christian family morality, work ethic and values.
Secure the border.
Restore confidence in Law and Order, support the Police and the American Judicial system
Restore a strong Military and encourage “Peace through Strength”
Reject the Paris Climate Agreement. President Trump did it before, and we need it again. Biden’s so called “Climate Policies” are destroying America and they are not about environmental protection or pollution. Climate Policies are a path to Socialism and one world government, . Not about Public Health or Protecting the environment. Climate Policies of the Biden Administration are un-American and a gift to those countries that hate the U.S.
Increase American energy production of all forms including nuclear, oil, gas and coal. Energy=Life as we enjoy it.
Reshore manufacturing back to the U.S. Especially primary metals, Pharmaceuticals, autos, most important raw materials and minerals
Reduce the size and influence of government
Reduce government Regulations and reign in the EPA, DOJ, BLM and other out of control “Deep State/Swamp Alphabet Soup agencies.
Unite the citizens. Ronald Reagan and Eisenhower are tough acts to follow, but they did it. So can President Trump!
Stop the decline of America and create a vision of optimism to make America Greater than ever.
Improve Public Education to get back to the fundamentals of teaching young people important life skills beginning with Reading, Writing, Math and General Science. Eliminate the foolish social engineering.
Renew American leadership in the world and defeat “Wokism”
So, What Would Reagan Do?
In Reagan’s time, America had just suffered through several Oil Embargoes the Iranian Hostage crisis and tensions of the Cold War.
America’s respect by the world was at a low point. Reagan had a difficult task ahead of him in 1980, but his success is well documented, factual and respected. I remember the years of 18% Home Mortgage rates, the hidden tax of high inflation, Utilities postponing dividends, gas lines, the Iranian hostage situation, rebuilding our military and more. The eight years of President Reagan’s leadership renewed America . In my opinion, his principled and Godly leadership saved America. Elections matter. So do the issues of the candidates. Another point made in the Peacemaker was that Reagan’s task was hard and that he had many challenges that had to be overcome. Challenges from his own staff, Congress and leaders of the world. In spite of these, he kept his Faith and focus. As the saying goes, it is all history now. The big question is. Can Donald Trump repeat such an effective and results oriented Presidency to reverse the decline after four years of Biden policies? I believe he can.
Politicians like to say, “The Best years for America Lie Ahead of Us”. In my opinion, yes the years ahead can be much better. However, I am concerned for the future of America if Democrats keep control of the Whitehouse and Congress. Return of the “Misery Index” is a minor concern when all of the hot spots of this dangerous world are considered, including Israel, Ukraine, China, Russia, Taiwan and terrorists. The current, government top priority of “Climate Policies” are in fact, destroying our country.
I used to think Democrats were simply ignorant on the knowledge of energy and electricity generation. Truly, most are trained in Political Science or are Lawyers, but they have thousands of trained engineers and energy experts that they could consult. Climate Scientists too. Therefore, it is my conclusion that, most Democrat politicians are deliberately weakening America (the only (D) I know that went slightly against the other (D’s) was Joe Manchin (D-WVA). Why would they push destructive policies such as open borders to allow criminals and illegal immigrants to enter our country and then giving criminals priority over U.S. Citizens? Reducing funding and support for Police, weakening law and order, weakening the military, having men compete in women’s sports, killing babies and killing the fuels that power our economy, killing the American auto industry, making food production more costly and rejecting the high quality of life we have enjoyed, Why? Unless they (or those who are influencing them) are intentionally trying to divide and weaken our country?
Are Biden and Congress Influenced by Foreign Pressures?
The Washington Examiner Magazine in the April 23 issue cover story relates to foreign influence of elections, anti-semitism protests and more. The cover art depicts voters controlled by the CCP. I recommend reading the Washington Examiner if you are interested in the depth of subversion within our country, read Tom Rogan’s article on page 20, also references below. (18, 19, 20, 21) Have you wondered about the anti-Israel Pro-HAMAS protests at Colleges and major road and bridge closures recently? Wonder how they just pop up at the same time? Flags and banners supporting mass murderer HAMAS and even ISIS appear across the country. Crowds are raised and anti-American speeches are delivered. This is not a good omen for election integrity in November.
Credit the Washington Examiner cover, April 23, 2024 edition
Living the American Dream
I was born during WWII and America has grown and prospered over these last 80 years of my life. I grew up in a working class family of modest income and thanks to the gift from God of good health and a strong work ethic, prevailing American freedom, values and liberty, I was able, through study, hard work, marrying a wonderful supportive wife that put up with the sacrifices of my working long hours, travel and moving my family around the country. Ultimately started my own company and we enjoyed an above average income with the earned advantages and privileges that go along with being a business owner.
I lived the American Dream and it is my Prayer and hope that my grandchildren and all of the young people in America will be able to do the same.
Some of the accomplishments of my generation come to mind. There are many great leaders that made these possible, starting with one of my favorite Presidents, Eisenhower, who was also Reagan’s mentor. My contribution to the accomplishments listed below was a very humble and small one, but the list is fact and history. These are some of what has made America Great during the last 80 years! The policies of the Democrats is Hell bent on weakening or destroying much of what was built during my lifetime.
Examples of American Greatness during the last 80 Years
The U.S. Navy secured and made ocean transport safe all around the globe to drastically reduce International Ocean shipping costs. This provided the economic advantage to Developing countries, including China
AT&T and Western Electric pioneered advanced submerged cable design and construction that even today provide pathways for over 90% of International electronic data transfer. There is a reason the U.S. is country code #1
President Eisenhower and Admiral Rickover pioneered the use of nuclear power for clean power generation through Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” initiative, spreading clean, safe nuclear power generation around the world with the partnering of great American companies such as B&W, Westinghouse, Combustion Engineering, Foster-Wheeler and General Electric
America, Proudly a Nation of Christians (7)
America was the world’s largest manufacturer of autos, appliances and electronics
America was the world’s largest producer of steel, aluminum and copper
General Motors was the largest automobile manufacturer in the world and in the 1950’s it was accepted that “What Is good for General Motors Is Good for the Country and vice versa” (2)
Babcock and Wilcox and Combustion Engineering pioneered supercritical and ultra supercritical steam generators for electric power generation
Boeing jet airliners were the best in the world
NASA was started and within President Kennedy’s Goal of ten years put a man on the moon
Public Schools practiced morning prayer and recognized two sexes, male and female
President Reagan and his “Peace Through Strength” policies succeeded in overcoming weakness of the preceding Presidential term. Reagan’s leadership restored America as the strongest nation in the world
America’s economy became the largest in the world and the U.S. Dollar, the medium of exchange for trade in the world.
General Electric, under the leadership of Jack Welsh became the strongest and best manufacturer of power plant electric generation equipment, advanced medical equipment and aircraft engines
Our Electric Grid became the most reliable in the world and electricity prices amongst the lowest in the world
American energy production and cost remained reasonable and we made great advances after the Oil Embargoes of 1973, 1974 and 1978
America became energy independent in 2019
Biden and Democrat Policies are Destroying America and Must be Stopped!
Climate Policies and the War on Conventional Fuels, Internal Combustion Engines and more that me and the American majority have grown to depend on and love.
Open Borders for terrorists and people who wish to do harm to America and American citizens
Weakening Election Integrity
Dividing the citizens of our country with codified policies to destroy women’s sports, create new sexes, DEI, SEC rules to harm business and industry and more
Pushing Social Policies that are insanely wrong and divisive. Check the Washington Examiner articles on foreign influence, Tik-Tock and more
Weakened support for our Military and weakened Department of Defense resources. The Biden top priority of “Climate Policies” is a path to weaken everything about America.
Weakened support of our Police and law and order
Out of control spending on Federal programs that cause inflation. Inflation is a “hidden Tax” on American citizens.
Crushing Regulations across all government “Alphabet Soup” agencies; EPA, OSHA, BLM, IRS, SEC, etc are all at war with the citizens, small businesses and productive American industries
Declaring war on internal combustion engines, gas stoves and more consumer products that Americans have grown to love
Support of criminals and illegal immigrants over tax paying U.S. citizens
Sacrificing U.S. Sovereignty to U.N. and WHO
Weak support of our Allies, especially Israel and a decline of world respect, similar to that faced by Reagan in 1980
By their policies, they show their hate for Mining and manufacturing in U.S.A.
And much more Totalitarian control over our lives
Election Interference
The inspiration to write this commentary was the News Media reporting of various polls of “If the election were held today, who would you vote for?”. President Trump and Biden are right at 50-50. In my view, if the status of the truly important concerns in America were compared to when Trump left office in 2020, and if all of the factors that keep America strong were considered, then the polls should be about 99% for Trump. The Pew poll graphic from 2023 is shown below. It hasn’t changed much. Trump and Biden are still within a few points of the same support.
Why would nearly half of the voters plan to vote for Biden? I am not trained in political science, but here are three demographic and social issues that, in my perception, have influenced half of the voters.
The first is the issue of abortion and a woman’s right to choose. Abortion has killed over 63 million babies since 1973 but stated as a “women’s right to choose” it does not sound so evil and many women are influenced by this single issue.
The second most influential factor is, the top 50% wage earners in America pay 97.7% of the Federal taxes. The bottom 50% pay the remaining 2.3%. So, almost half of the population gets more from government than they pay out in taxes.
The third demographic reality is that over 50% of the voters live in large cities. The cities, even in Conservative states like SC, tend to be controlled by the Democrat Party and historically have practiced voting irregularities and shenanigans. (1) Take a look at the U.S.A. map by counties of Red and Blue voting. The entire U.S.A. is mostly Red, except for the cities which have perpetual problems in election integrity.
America is approaching a Totalitarian and Dictatorial government elected by people who either are dependent on government handouts or are influenced by social issues. This is in my opinion to reason why so many are poised to vote for leaders that will destroy our country.
Conclusion and Summary
It is my hope that voters will do research and that the Republican Party will educate more citizens on the importance of the real issues that matter.
Let me close with several quotes of Ronald Reagan on his views on the importance of keeping America strong and great. The first is from Reagan’s farewell, Jan. 11, 1989:
“And that’s about all I have to say tonight, except for one thing. The past few days when I’ve been at that window upstairs, I’ve thought a bit of the ``shining city upon a hill.” The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we’d call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free.
I’ve spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.
And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was 8 years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she’s still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.
We’ve done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for 8 years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren’t just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.”
The issues matter and President Reagan showed how to make them work for the best interests of our country.
Two more from the wisdom of Ronald Reagan….
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”-1961
and
“If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth. And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except to sovereign people, is still the newest and most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man. This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.” – 1964
President Donald Trump also applied policies that renewed America during his term. It is my hope and prayer that starting in 2025, policies will be in place to return America to greatness. Ronald Reagan proved that America can be saved from decline.
In Part 2, I will cover some of the NGO’s, individuals, foreign influence and other factors, besides the U.S.-DOJ that are in fact, actively participating in election interference. The November 2024 election may be our last chance to save America and there are many forces, organizations and government officials that are influencing voters by effective use of smear politics and Un-American (Woke) social/Cultural indoctrination. These are very real factors. Some of the influence is from foreign sources. (18, 19, 20, 21)
Last week I wrote an article on the Reality of Electrifying Everything. I stand behind my concerns and conclusions on that and the other articles I have written on energy and electricity generation. However, this week I attended the two part and outstanding USCB-OLLI course: “THE KOREAN WAVE 2024 – CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY” . Professor Juanita (Babet) Villena-Alvarez was the instructor and she presented an incredible story of the growth of Hyundai from founding in 1967, to becoming the huge conglomerate it is now. The course was well researched and presented in a compelling and interesting way on the massive investments by Hyundai in south east Georgia only about an hour drive from Hilton Head. The course purpose was to inform and educate local citizens of the coming cultural changes and the infrastructure challenges that come along with the rapid growth. This was not a technical discussion on EV’s, it was a course on culture, business and demographics. However, in my mind, I was thinking about the challenges to electricity generation to make it all possible.
Getting back to my normal topic of writing on energy and electricity generation. I should point out another large project, now completed and within 100 miles of the HMG Metaplant, is Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle, now the largest nuclear generating plant in the U.S.
Professor Villena-Alvarez was kind enough to share dozens of references. Many are included at the end of this. The point of this article is to show the enormous commitment Hyundai has made toward “Electrifying Transportation”. Sitting in class it occurred to me, “What Am I Missing?”…..Here is an update on Hyundai’s project which is in the low country, within an hour drive from my home. Needless to say, I was impressed, this is a huge commitment.
Hyundai Invests in The Largest Project in GA State History According to Governor Kemp
Governor Brian Kemp stated,(6)“In a single year, we broke ground on the largest project in state history, landed multiple suppliers across the state for Hyundai’s Metaplant, and welcomed LGES to Bryan County. Today, we’re building on that success as we continue to make Georgia the e-mobility capital of the nation,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “These types of major investments ultimately go to hardworking Georgians in the form of paychecks, improved schools and infrastructure, and more. Thank you to Hyundai Motor Group and LGES for again recognizing that the No. 1 state for business is a good investment.” As I studied the materials that Professor Villena-Alvarez prepared, I was impressed. Here are some points and references that may interest you too.
Some Points of the Economic Impact
Hyundai is a huge company. Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is just one division. Until I took the short course, I had no idea of just how large Hyundai and other South Korean firms are and their economic impact in the U.S.
I learned that not only Hyundai, but also other South Korean firms including, Sam Sung, LG, SK-Battery and others have invested over $200 Billion in plants in the U.S. Hyundai makes Hyundai, KIA and Genesis autos. Also, Steel, Shipping and more. Here is a bullet list of some key facts of economic impact from Korean direct investment into Georgia and the U.S.A.
Over 8,100 jobs will be created by HMG in Georgia, over 14,300 including supply-chain providers of components
The Panamax capable Port of Savannah will be enlarged with additional new Ship to Shore Cranes. Savannah is already one of the busiest ports in the U.S.
The Talmadge Bridge over the Savannah River will be raised to accommodate Panamax Ships.
Hyundai is now the #3 world auto manufacturer, after Toyota and VW, HMG plans to build 500,000 vehicles/year at the new GA MetaPlant. The professor said BMW produced 412,000 vehicles in 2022 as comparison
The Hyundai Meta Plant covers almost 3,000 acres off of I-16
Hyundai is partnering with Georgia Tech to collaborate on the use of Hydrogen for future Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
Hyundai had a large plant in China. In August 2023, Hyundai pulled out of China (24)
Time Will Tell….
Hyundai and others have made an enormous investment into “Electrifying Transportation”. My position and my concerns have been discussed in numerous blog posts. As the years roll on, we shall see how this all turns out. A couple tidbits of South Korean business culture and history: A majority of South Korean’s are Christians and share the values of western civilization. Hyundai, now a world manufacturing power was founded in 1967 by Chung Ju Yung.
Mr. Chung, interestingly to me, was born in North Korea. These folks are accustomed to making right decisions and growing manufacturing at a fast pace.
In the meantime, I thought you might be interested in checking the references below to reveal the South Korean infusion of optimism and enormous investment in America.
Dick Storm, April 13, 2024
References and Information on Korean Direct Investment into the U.S.A.:
Korea Energy Profile by IEA. A reminder that a growing economy requires enormous use of energy. Here is where South Korea obtains their energy: https://www.iea.org/countries/korea
Conventional fuels, including coal provide most of the power needed to sustain our high quality of life. During 2022 coal use in the world reached a new high and provides the fuel for about 35.4% of the world’s electricity generation. Asia’s electricity generation was 82% from coal fuel in 2022(40, 41)
Meanwhile, the current U.S. government policy, green religion, renewable energy policies and crushing regulations are geared toward electrifying everything. Including transportation. The emphasis on phasing out internal combustion engines for autos is well publicized. This outlawing without Congressional action of internal combustion engines in spite of the majority of Americans desire to keep gasoline and Diesel powered vehicles seems unlawful to me? Then, on Good Friday Biden’s EPA issued new rules on electrifying heavy trucks. The EPA is out of touch, not only with their purpose of protecting human health, but also with Physics, Thermodynamics and Reality. The Demand for electricity is increasing because of increased use by Data Centers, EV’s and the natural organic growth of electricity as people of the world are lifted from poverty.(60) The surge in EV Demand has not really been felt yet because EV’s are still a small percentage of the total U.S. vehicle fleet.
The EPA is on a mission to kill coal plants regardless of the harm to our country, it is a rogue government agency, staffed by extremists, guided by extremists in the Biden Administration that are using the regulations as a weapon against the Best interests of America and the citizens. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) America needs to use all fuels which are within our borders and including coal. America is the Saudi Arabia of coal and has the highest quality & richest coal deposits on planet earth. We should use this God given Primary Energy Treasure to keep America strong.
The lure of billions of dollars in tax subsidies has made otherwise well run organizations and corporations to become “Woke & Green Biased”. It is extreme fantasy to believe that wind and solar can power the economies of Developed Countries. Yet, policies of many otherwise well run companies and organizations, even when they employ well trained and experienced engineers that know better, promote the “Green narrative. One example of this green wokeness is the “PowerGen” Conference. This conference was one of my favorites and I have been a presenter for decades since the 1980’s. In January I was asked by a Utility engineer friend, Mark Barton, along with two other senior power engineers, Frank Mitchell and John Grusha, to serve on a panel. The title of the Panel: “Legacy Perspective of 100 Years of Power Generation Experience”. I wrote my take aways here. (35) Frank Mitchell, retired from AEP and now active as an independent consultant also has published many technical papers on power generation. One entitled, “Analysis of Variable Renewable Energy and Reserve Margins” is available from the ASME. (36) Suffice it to say, the panelists involved do not agree with the Net-Zero Carbon path our country is on. We are not alone.
Also hard to understand is the well respected POWER Magazine embracement of renewable power to “Electrify Everything”. Here is an excerpt from this month’s POWER Magazine. This is written by Matt Helgeson, head of Sustainabilityfor Siemens USA.(8) He also should know better.
“The “electrification of everything” is
underway to not only decarbonize,
but also support optimized, safer and
more resilient processes and systems.
This concept means that we are replacing
our fossil fuel economy with wind,
solar, hydro, electric vehicles (EVs), heat
pumps, and more. This transformation
will be made possible—at scale—with
the application of digital technologies.
However, the challenge arises to electrify
everything before the grid is fully “green”
if we are going to appropriately and effectively
address climate change.
From electrifying buildings and vehicles,
and navigating the impact to the
grid, the technology to accomplish a fully
electric transformation is available today.
And now’s the time to utilize these technologies
to ensure that everything that
can be connected to the grid is electrified.
We’re running parallel races to transition
power generation to renewable sources,
improve the grid to manage those sources,
and replace infrastructure that’s ready
to use the power delivered to it.
Electrification of Transportation
An exciting and rapidly advancing industry
transformation is the electrification of transport.
According to Car and Driver, 2024 is
expected to set a new record for EVs sold
and their share of the total market. Further,
the EV market is projected to have a compound
annual growth rate of about 10%
projected through 2028, leading to more
than $900 billion in sales that year.
As the need to reduce carbon emissions
has become clear, we’re seeing
unprecedented support and funding from
the federal government to deploy EV infrastructure.
State and local governments”
Dick Storm’s Love of Power, Articles and Commentary in POWER Magazine….
POWER Magazine has been my favorite power generation magazine since 1959 when I was a teen and just beginning preparation for a career I loved in power generation. I was inspired by Steve Elonka’s fictional character “Marmaduke Surfaceblow” who was a “Globe Trotting Consulting Engineer” that solved power engineering problems around the world. I wanted to become an engineer like Marmaduke Surfaceblow. I pretty much succeeded in that goal. Thank you POWER for the inspiration! Later in my career I was a contributing editor to POWER Magazine where I shared the Storm Technology team’s experiences in improving combustion and efficiency. As recent as 2021, my commentary was published in POWER, which I still believe and stand behind. (9) Linked Here and it is a contrast with the Siemens commentary this month. A few other POWER articles I contributed are listed below in the references. (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) I remain very proud of what I did to make a small contribution of helping generate reliable, efficient and clean coal power. Yes, I remain a friend of coal! And so should all Americans embrace coal, oil, gas and uranium use, all are fuels that are capable of being produced in the quantities we need from within our borders. More later on the need for 833,000-1,000,000 Btus per day/person to power our economy and our lives.
Reminder of the vast coal reserves in the U.S. and on the planet.
Getting back to the reality of Primary Energy and the sources of Primary energy that can meet our needs:
Meet Energy Reality
America uses right at 100 Quadrillion Btus of energy each year. This is likely to increase, that is if we maintain our high quality of life, over time. The IEA believes that with increased Data Center consumption, electricity growth will likely be over 3.4%/year. (67) Also, with more electrification, large new Data Centers, more EV’s and a growing population, Demand for electricity will grow. The entire world uses about 600 Quadrillion Btus of energy. These amounts of U.S. and world energy use are reported by numerous references. Amongst them, the IEA, EIA, Our World in Data and the Energy Institute. Most of the rest of the world is using coal. The greatest amount of coal ever used in history was the year 2023.
I have written on the 100 Quadrillion Btus that the US uses on a previous blog posts Here, Here,Here Here and Here(17, 18, 19, 20)
The “Count on Coal” Blog article quoting a conversation with worldwide energy expert, Daniel Yergin, sums up the energy transition very accurately. (27) Yergin’s comments are supported by the “Our World in Data” world energy use chart above and numerous other references included at the end. An excerpt from the Count on Coal Blog is copied below. The bold font and underlining is my emphasis:
“Renowned energy analyst and historian Dan Yergin recently observed that the world isn’t just using more coal than ever before but three times what it did in the 1960s. While Yergin recognizes significant changes in the global energy mix, he said, “I’m sick of the energy transition discussion. It sometimes loses touch with economic history and reality. If you look at the history of energy transitions, they all last for over a century. To try and make change happen in 25 years, or even half of that time is highly unlikely.”
For Yergin – and energy analysts the world over – the coal age has miles to run. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects coal consumption in India and Southeast Asia to in fact “grow significantly.”
By 2026, the IEA expects just China and India together to account for 70% of global coal demand. Those two nations and Indonesia opened 59 gigawatts of new coal generating capacity last year. India has 85 GW of new coal generating capacity already under construction with more expected.
Both China and India are rapidly adding renewable energy but see coal as essential to helping meet rising power demand and view it as an energy security and reliability backstop. China is on track to add 200 GW of new coal capacity by 2030. For comparison, that’s more new capacity than the entire existing U.S. coal fleet.
As Dan Yergin observed, we need a better energy transition discussion. Globally, we remain firmly in an era of energy addition. Just ask China and India. “
Energy provides life as we know it
China and India are rising as economically prosperous nations and they are doing so powered by all available sources of energy, including coal.(33, 34, 65) We in America should do likewise. The last new highly efficient and clean coal plants built in America started up in 2013. We have not built a major coal plant in the U.S. in over twelve years. However, hundreds have been shut down without replacing the reliable, affordable and dispatchable generation capacity in kind. (28,29, 30, 68)
Electrifying Everything is Not Possible
To say Electrifying Everything is possible, is a ludicrous fantasy and a lie. More politely, but factually it simply is not possible. (25) For example: Ammonia, Food production, Steel, Plastics, Aluminum and Concrete all are dependent on vast amounts of Primary Energy for production. It is not an exaggeration to say Energy = Life.(25)
Further, for all of the talk on the news about inflation and the rising cost of living, this inflation, in my opinion, is based largely on the government climate policies (more correctly described as a war on carbon) that are making it harder to produce Primary energy from conventional sources and also, forcing more expensive, less reliable, variable, intermittent, renewable energy on all of us. The so called, “Energy Transition” is not a transition, it is only a “War on Carbon and Conventional Forms of Energy” Daniel Yergin said it and so did I in previous Blog posts and presentations. (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 68) A previous article I wrote used Hawaii as an example. The Islands of Hawaii are an excellent case study in applying green only power generation. Why? Because Hawaii has plenty of sunlight and wind and it is separated from the U.S. Grid. Therefore, as the green only generation is built, with Diesel fuel backup, then the natural and high cost of intermittent green power is experienced by more use of expensive Diesel fuel. Hawaii is an ideal “Science Experiment” in using Green Power. (38)
833,000-1,000,000 Btus of Primary Energy/Day/Person
This is how much primary energy we have become accustomed to having available and at a reasonable cost. Replacing this quantity of reasonable cost, reliable and abundantly available conventional energy with renewables as stated before, is impossible. To attempt to decarbonize America will contribute to the decline of our quality of life and even worse, contribute to the decline of America. Here below is the U.S. Energy Flow Chart for Primary Energy. Prepared by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
The primary energy flow chart shows the energy flows from all of the sources of energy and how they are used. This is done in BTU equivalents to include non-thermal sources such as Hydroelectric, solar and wind. As shown on the chart, for 2022 Americans used a total of 100.3 Quadrillion BTUs of energy.
A reminder: one BTU is equivalent to 778 foot pounds of work at 100% efficiency. One kWh of electricity is equivalent to 3,412.6 BTUs.
After decades of tax subsidies the quantity of primary energy provided by wind and solar is less than 6%. The fact is, over 90% of our primary energy was in 2022 and remains in 2024, provided by conventional forms of energy: Oil, gas, coal, nuclear, Biomass and old hydroelectric dams. Remember the key words “Primary Energy” when you are told we should “Electrify Everything“. Electricity and Hydrogen are Secondary Energy that must be produced using Primary Energy.
Reality of Bulk Power Supply
Most authors refer to the Grid, (aka Largest Machine Ever Built).(59, 60) I chose to use the term, “Bulk Power Supply” because the term “Bulk Power” better describes generation from conventional power stations. When I reported for work to Carolina Power & Light Company in 1973, the sign on the office door in the central general office stated, “Bulk Power Supply”. I thought it a curious term and wondered why it was not called the “Electric Generating Department”. Apparently, many others have found the term “Bulk Power Supply” awkward too because I do not see references to “Bulk Power Supply” much anymore. However, after all of these years, I think it is the right term to describe Bulk Power Generation when discussing “Megawatt or Gigawatt Hours” not kilowatts of generation.
Let’s take a look at (Bulk Power Supply) electricity generation, by fuels over the last few years during peak summer and winter Demand periods. These are screen shots of actual data. The first is PJM on June 30, 2018. Note that about a third of the generation is by coal fuel.
Since de-regulation of electricity markets in the 1990’s, the U.S. has been divided up into Regional Transmission Operator or RTO’s and Independent System Operators or ISO’s. Here is a map to show what PJM, MISO, ERCOT, etc.
FERC.gov
First, let’s look at PJM on a high Demand day: Notice the importance of coal generation? In this example, coal power provides about a third of the total generation.
The next example is the 48 state Grid for the week January 28-Feb. 4th 2023. Note the generation by fuels. Coal is providing about 22% of the total 544,000 MWh generation on Feb. 1.
Next, let’s look at Duke Energy Carolinas for the first week of September 2023. Duke has a very balanced generation portfolio including a lot of nuclear, gas and coal generation capacity. At the moment shown, coal was providing 21% of total generation.
The neighboring Utility in SC, Santee-Cooper. A much smaller Utility than Duke, with much more dependence on coal fuel. In this example, about two thirds coal power generation is from coal. The lead photo at the top is the 2390 MW Cross Generating Station. This is a very important generating plant for my area of S.C.
The Midcontinent System Operations (MISO) is shown below for a summer day in 2022. Coal is delivering about 42% of the electricity generation at that moment. (68)
From Dick Storm Presentation to ENERUM, Columbus, Ohio, August 2022 Data from MISOENERGY.org
These illustrations are taken from past presentations I have given to show the importance of coal generated power.(68) As this is written, it is spring time and what we in the power plant maintenance business used to call “Outage Season”. Why, because power demand in the spring and fall is the lowest due to mild weather and it is the time to perform major maintenance overhauls. Typical demand curves for different seasons are shown below. From these you can imagine the risk of coming Blackouts is not in the spring and fall, but in the high demand summer or winter months. Remember Texas in Feb. 2021 with over 240 people killed by cold and power shortages?
The PJM load profile shows peak demand in the summer with high air conditioning loads. In the south many states electricity demand peaks in the winter (South Carolina as an example).
Blackouts are forecasted and warnings have been loud and clear. However, the EPA and the government continue their “War on Carbon”. This is intentionally weakening America.
Planning for Blackouts
The illustration below is from the Santee-Cooper IRP. It shows how the forecast of increasing load Demand that is greater than the installed, Dispatchable generation capacity. Some more history of failed S.C. Energy policy is on LI here. (69)
North of Santee-Cooper’s service territory is Duke Energy Carolinas. Their IRP shows a similar gap of Demand and installed capacity. Why? Because the Legislatures in both states have pressured the Utilities to stop using coal. Much of the Duke Energy Coal Plants have been demolished and they plan to completely exit coal use by 2036. The chart below is from one of the Duke Energy IRP’s and it shows an actual deficit of required generation capacity as the coal plants are shut down.
Stopping the use of coal is unnecessary. The Climate Policies are, in my analysis, not to protect the environment or human health. The Climate Policies that have been cooked up to scare the public are all about “One World Government”, Socialism and control of the citizens. Have you noticed that these Climate Policies are only being applied in the Free Western World? Yet, Asia burns over 75% of the world’s coal. Americans need to wake up and here below are some books and references to shed some more light on Climate Policies and sustaining our high quality of life.
Excellent books that forecasted the future of Electric Power shortages and the worldwide misinformation on climate science.
We Have Been Warned!
I am one of many who have warned of coming Blackouts. That’s right, I am not the first skeptic. Let me give credit to Mr. Donn Dears for being one of the first that published books on these harmful policies. Then, after over 100,000 MW of reliable coal plants have been shut down, FERC and NERC and other reputable organizations finally started to chime in. At this time, Blackouts during peak extreme weather in the summer or winter periods are expected. My previous article discussed what I consider to be the largest threats to energy and electricity generation reliability.(64)
FERC, NERC, America’s Power and many others have provided warnings. (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 68)
Yet, the government agencies, especially the EPA continues the same misguided path toward Net Zero Carbon. My friend, I am sad to say, my late friend, Donn Dears wrote about a dozen books to highlight foolish and un-American energy policies. Four of his books are correctly titled: “Nothing to Fear-A Bright Future for Fossil Fuels”, “Looming Energy Crisis”, “Net-zero Carbon: The Climate Policy Destroying America” and “Clean Energy Crisis”. Donn was a solid American Patriot; Navy Veteran and he had a long career as an executive engineer at General Electric. This was back when G-E was a world leader in conventional power generation equipment. Donn was truly an energy expert’s Expert! Donn’s books are available on Amazon. Worth the read, each is only about 100 pages and they are packed with facts. Donn did his best to save America, even in the last days of his life he was contributing articles and posts on his web site, “POWER for the USA” and communicating with me (and others) to review articles or presentations I prepared and then asked for his advice and review. What a wonderful man and engineer Donn was. RIP my friend, we miss you.
Donn Dears was the one that inspired me to start this Blog. I offer my experiences and my knowledge in all humility, and in memory and respect for my friend, Donn Dears. I miss his friendship and shared wisdom.
America is heading for an energy crisis and it will be hard to correct the harm that has been self inflicted by alphabet government agencies and a rogue, energy ignorant administration.
Please wake up American’s! Please do some research into the importance of energy and reasonable cost, reliable and Dispatchable electricity. Then, pass on the information to your friends and family. Do this for Donn, your own good and for your grandchildren. In my opinion, only about 3% of Americans really understand energy and electricity generation. The Marxist Left has done an effective job of indoctrinating the public with green misinformation. All of us that understand energy and electricity generation need to get involved in preaching the true facts on the unachievable “Net-Zero Carbon and Electrify Everything” nonsensical path of U.S. energy policy.
“Clean Energy Crisis”, Book by Donn Dears, 2023. An excellently written, short and concise review of the energy crisis we are facing. Available on Amazon.
Dick Storm's Thoughts on Energy, Education, Economic Prosperity & Environmental Blog 
