Oklahoma’s wind rocks
The Sooner State plays outsized role in developing sustainable energy.
The nation is making economic and energy efficiency gains as renewable and sustainable energy projects continue to get built, and Oklahoma is doing its part and then some, an analyst said Tuesday.
Ethan Zindler, the head of U.S. research at Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance, discussed Oklahoma’s role in bringing the technology to the forefront with legislators and state-based reporters Tuesday.
“We are very optimistic about these technologies, especially ones most plentiful here in Oklahoma, including natural gas and wind,” Zindler said. “In our view, these technologies will continue to change the world going forward over the next 20 years, and they present a major economic opportunity for your state.”
Developments he referred to are highlighted in a report titled the 2018 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The report was developed by Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
The 2018 report is the sixth annual outline of key energy trends contributing to American economic competitiveness, both Zindler and an executive who leads the business council said.
Its key findings this year were:
• Natural gas remained a primary source of power generation in the U.S. Along with wind and solar, it combined with increased hydropower generation to drive renewable generation up to 18 percent of the total electricity mix in one year.
• Costs remained low, as consumers devoted only 1.3 percent of their spending toward
electricity, smaller than at any time ever recorded.
• Emissions from the electricity sector plummeted, falling 4.2 percent to the lowest level in more than 27 years.
The U.S. continues to solidify its role as a global liquefied natural gas exporter, and for the first time was a net exporter of natural gas for every month of 2017.
Additionally, it said that new sales of battery, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles accelerated, driven by longerrange versions of existing models. Significantly, the price of lithium-ion battery packs, a key cost component for battery electric vehicles, fell 65 percent in between 2013
and the end of 2017.
‘Massive and historic transformation’
The report said renewable energy, energy efficiency and natural gas sectors employed about 3 million Americans in 2016, and noted that utilities and independent developers continue to invest in infrastructure to improve grid operations and support the growth of clean energy, having spent an estimated $22.9 billion on electric transmission in 2017, a 91 percent increase since 2011.
Meanwhile, investment in midstream natural gas transmission, distribution and storage systems climbed 19 percent from 2015 to 2016, with distribution accounting for nearly half the escalation in spending. Total investment in distribution hit its highest level yet at $13.4 billion, a 16 percent expansion from 2015 levels.
“The massive and historic transformation of the U.S. energy sector clicked into a higher gear in 2017, despite new policy uncertainties,” a summary for the report reads. “Renewable deployment grew at a near-record pace, energy productivity and GDP growth both accelerated, and the U.S. became a serious player in the global liquefied natural gas market.
“All of this combined to squeeze U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to a 25-year low, while keeping costs in check for consumers.”
Lisa Jacobson, president of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, stated in a news release the report shows clean energy is helping the nation’s economy.
“The focus of national energy policy in 2018 and beyond should be to further enhance and promote the continued growth of these clean energy sectors,” Jacobson said.
Zindler agreed, saying Oklahoma is an exciting place to be when it comes to developing sustainable energy.
“When we look around the world and we think of wind projects on land, I usually cite two places where the most productive projects are located. One is the coast of Brazil, and the other is Oklahoma,” Zindler said.
“Projects in Oklahoma are able to generate power more than 50 percent of the time,” he said. “You are really able to maximize the wind resource here.”