Energy industry says more construction needed

Environmentalists argue more energy efficiency could greatly reduce the need for a huge new wave of power plants and transmission lines.

In two studies out Monday, the power industry gives its terse response: Don’t count on it.
Increased efficiency can offset a substantial but relatively small portion of the increase in generating capacity needed to meet rising electricity demand, the studies say.

Even with widespread purchases of energy-saving appliances and better-insulated homes, the USA will still need to build at least 151 gigawatts of new generation — enough to power 75 million homes — by 2030, says one study by The Brattle Group for Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the industry’s trade group.

The projects, aimed at meeting new demand and replacing aging plants, would cost $457 billion. The biggest wave of utility construction in a generation would also require $900 billion for lines to transport the power.

USA Today