Sustainable Energy Studies, compiled by the SUN DAY Campaign:
The following studies were produced by various governmental, business, academic, and non-profit organizations. Each provides information and analyses about the near-term potential and/or status of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. Collectively, they document how it is possible to use sustainable energy technologies to meet U.S. energy needs while simultaneously reducing energy imports, phasing-out nuclear power, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. |
March 2008: Got Solar! NIRS Factsheet
February 21, 2008: New report from World Wind Energy Association: 19.7 Gigawatts of wind power—the equivalent of 15-20 nuclear reactors—was added in 2007. Wind now generates more than 1% of worldwide electricity, and continues to be the world’s fastest growing source of power. 
November 8, 2007: Jobs from Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency. New factsheet from Environmental and Energy Study Institute.
October 5, 2006: 145 organizations, including NIRS, release the Sustainable Energy Blueprint: a paper outlining a "plausible strategy for achieving a no-nuclear, low-carbon, highly-efficient and sustainable energy future. Press Release. Download .pdf verion of Blueprint here 
September 2006: A
new report from Greenpeace International and the European Photovoltaic
Industry Association finds that Solar power can deliver electricity to
more than 2 billion people and provide more than 2 million jobs with an
annual investment of 113 billion Euros by 2025.
According to the report, 350 million tons of CO2 emissions would be cut
-- the equivalent amount from 140 coal power stations -- and by 2040,
solar electricity could provide more than 16% of the global power demand.
"Factoids" on sustainable energy issues from the Sustainable
Energy Coalition:
Introduction.
Factoid #1: Biomass Could Provide 15% of U.S. Energy
Demand by 2030.
Factoid #2: Annual Installations of Rooftop Photovoltaics
Could Power Hundreds of Thousands of Homes and Businesses by 2010.
Factoid #3: Wind Power Could Generate More Than
Enough Sustainable Electricity to Meet Global Energy Needs.
Factoid #4: Biomass Could Provide at Least 12 Percent
of California's Electricity Needs.
Factoid #5: Untapped Geothermal Resources Could
Provide 25,000MW of Electrical Generating Capacity
Factoid #6: U.S. Can Eliminate Oil Use in a Few
Decades
Factoid #7: The Northeast Has Enough Efficiency
Resources to Slow and Eventually Halt Growth in Electricity Demand
Factoid #8: Wind Power Could Generate 20% of Electricity
by 2020; Renewable Fuels Can Largely Replace Gasoline by 2050
Factoid #9: California Can Satisfy 33 Percent of
its Electricity Supply Needs With Renewable Energy by 2020 With Little
or no Increase in Electric Rates.
Factoid #10: Western U.S. Could Reduce Electricity
Use by 20% From Projected Levels by 2020
Factoid #11: Energy Use in Buildings Can be Cut
by 14 Percent by 2020 Through Short-term Efficiency Policies
Factoid #12 -- Solar Energy Could Provide 8,000+
MW of Capacity in Western States by 2015
Factoid #13 -- Combined Heat & Power Could
Provide an Additional 43,000 MW of Electrical Generating Capacity in Western
States
Factoid #14 -- California Has Potential For Almost
150GW of Wind Capacity
Factoid #15 -- California Can Meet Greenhouse
Gas Reduction Targets at no Net Cost While Creating 20,000 Jobs And Expanding
State's Economy $60 Billion
Factoid #16 -- Western U.S. Has 13,000 Megawatts
of Near-Term Geothermal Power Potential
Factoid #17: U.S. Hydropower Can Be Increased
By At Least 50 Percent
Factoid #18: Renewable Resources Could Provide
99 Percent of U.S. Electricity Generation by 2020
Sustainable Energy Coalition
Issues First in Series of "Factoids" Outlining How the U.S.
can Eliminate Energy Imports, Phase out Nuclear Power, and Slash Greenhouse
Gas Emissions Through Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. SEC
News Release. October 17, 2005
Study by Rocky Mountain Institute finds renewables, efficiency, distributed
generation remains cheaper and more effective than nuclear power; passage
of energy bill would undermine national security. June 2005. http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid1154.php
Potential for Renewable Energy (Union of Concerned Scientists, May 8, 2001)
The Myth of 1,300 Power Plants (Natural Resources Defense Council, May15, 2001)
Energy Efficiency (Natural Resources DefenseCouncil, May 15, 2001)
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