Milestone 2 SCI 220

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Nicole Liggiero IDS 400 November 26, 2023 Milestone two The U.S. Energy Mix

2050 Energy Mix According to the Annual Energy Outlook 2023, the United States will see a rise in energy consumption of all kinds between 0% and 15% between 2022 and 2050. The consequences of population expansion, economic growth, and greater travel are projected to offset ongoing advancements in energy efficiency, leading to an increase in the country's energy consumption. In percentage terms, the energy consumption in the transportation and industrial sectors is most susceptible to variations in the underlying assumptions between scenarios ( U.S. Energy Consumption Increases Between 0% And 15% by 2050 , 2023). According to DOE projections, fossil fuels will provide 66% of the country's energy in 2050, which is in line with IPCC carbon reduction targets. The estimated annual growth rate of renewable energy consumption is expected to be 3.1% between 2022 and 2050, whereas the growth rate of overall energy use is expected to be 0.2% ( EIA Projects Renewables Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Mix Will Double by 2050 , n.d.). From 2020 to 2050, natural gas will continue to make up around one-third of all electricity generated in the United States. Despite the fact that natural gas prices will stay low for most of the projection period, the fraction of natural gas used in generation will remain consistent. This stability persists despite substantial retirements of coal and nuclear power plants brought on by market competition since market and regulatory forces encourage the production of additional renewable energy ( EIA Projects Renewables Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Mix Will Double by 2050 , n.d.). Justify The Mix It can be very advantageous for the United States to produce the majority of its energy using nuclear power and renewable sources. Systems that combine nuclear power with renewable energy can reduce costs, enhance resource stability, produce enough energy to fulfill

demand and boost the energy security and independence of the United States. Although burning natural gas produces fewer emissions than burning coal or oil, natural gas still contributes roughly 33% of all methane emissions in the United States and 4% of all greenhouse gas emissions ( Natural Gas and the Environment (EIA) , 2023). When energy is produced and harvested, renewables produce no emissions, which makes them a more sustainable energy choice than fossil fuels. Carbon emissions are produced during the construction of clean energy components for renewable energy sources, however, these emissions are quickly offset by the plants' emissions-free operation ( Natural Gas and the Environment (EIA) , 2023) The main issues with renewable energy are the huge acreage requirements for these kinds of plants and the sporadic nature of the energy supply. One clean energy source with almost no emissions is nuclear power. Although investing entirely in nuclear energy is unreasonable due to rising costs, outdated reactors, and worries about radioactive waste, nuclear energy is still far more efficient than any other energy source ( U.S. Nuclear Industry (EIA) , 2023). The majority of American power facilities are elderly and may be shut down in the upcoming years, which is a significant disadvantage. It will cost money and time to build new factories. Therefore, producing 10% more nuclear energy by 2050 than it does now is a reasonable goal. Nuclear energy is significantly more expensive than renewable energy, which can help keep expenses in check ( U.S. Nuclear Industry (EIA) , 2023). In order to produce diverse energy products that meet the demands of different sectors, nuclear hybrid systems connect a nuclear reactor with a thermal power cycle, at least one renewable energy source, and an industrial process that employs thermal and/or electrical energy. These more adaptable, smaller hybrid power plants produce steady, clean electricity.

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Pathway US nuclear reactors are typically around 40 years old (EIA, 2022). The life of nuclear reactors might be extended, which would improve our energy mix and provide us with more time to build new, technologically advanced plants and renewable energy sources. It is important to continue developing new nuclear fission technologies that produce lithium from ocean water in order to boost resource independence and expand the availability of resources. Additionally, nuclear hybrid power plants should be constructed on stable land. The majority of the energy mix adjustments must be driven by the people and made at the federal level. A government wind and solar requirement of 30% electricity generation by 2030 is already being pushed. Raising these demands and guidelines will contribute to achieving the target of 40% renewable energy by 2050. Federal policy has already been impacted in certain cases, and certain states are already creating legislation based on the benefits of nuclear power. For instance, production tax credits were extended through 2021 for up to 6000 MW of new nuclear development by the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Davis L.W. 2012). introducing tax credits and encouraging businesses to make energy-related investments. The United States should tackle the issue of eliminating fossil fuels and boosting the production of nuclear and renewable energy. The United States may achieve greater energy independence and substantial pollution reductions by doing this. Since nuclear energy produces the most energy with the fewest emissions and most of its problems are easily resolved, we should keep going after it. Because they are more affordable and have abundant resources for many years to come, renewables are also an excellent option. It is more acceptable to combine nuclear energy with renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower to meet energy demands, including export requests that spur economic advancements.

References Davis, L. W. (2012). Prospects for Nuclear Power. The Journal of Economic Perspectives , 26 (1), 49–66. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41348806 EIA projects renewables share of U.S. electricity generation mix will double by 2050 . (2021). https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46676 Natural gas and the environment - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) . (n.d.). https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/natural-gas-and-the-environment.php U.S. energy consumption increases between 0% and 15% by 2050 . (2023). https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56040 U.S. nuclear industry (EIA) . (2023). https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/us- nuclear-industry.php

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