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Pipeline Quality Gas
www.PipelineQualityGas.com

Pipeline Quality Gas

Engineering, Gas Gathering, Midstream Oil and Gas  
and Natural Gas Treating Solutions

What is "Pipeline Quality" or "Pipeline Quality Gas"?

"Pipeline Quality Gas," is the purified and processed form of natural gas (CH4, natural gas or methane) that has had impurities, natural gas liquids and contaminants such as H2S (hydrogen sulfide) removed to meet "pipeline quality" requirements. This makes the natural gas useable to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Pipeline Quality Gas is also used in the biogas and biomethane industry. In this case, "raw" biogas that is produced from Anaerobic Digesters and Landfill Gas To Energy projects cannot be sold to natural gas pipelines or used in internal combustion engines due to the high number of contaminants, impurities and other chemicals in the biogas.

Raw biogas, in order to become Biomethane or Pipeline Quality Gas, must for from "Biogas to Biomethane" wherein the impurities and contaminants of the biogas are removed. This process of biogas purification to biomethane is also called "Gas Sweetening." The impurities and contaminants of biogas that need to be removed to then have Biomethane or Pipeline Quality Gas include; carbon dioxide (CO2), water, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and Siloxane. Some of the Biogas to Biomethane technologies include; iron sponge, water scrubbing, membrane separation, pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and mixing with higher quality gases.

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Our company provides turn-key project solutions that include all or part of the following: 

• Project Engineering Feasibility & Economic Analysis Studies  

• Engineering, Procurement and Construction

• Environmental Engineering & Permitting 

• Project Funding & Financing Options; including Equity Investment, Debt Financing, Lease and Municipal Lease

• Shared/Guaranteed Savings Program with No Capital Investment from Qualified Clients 

• Project Commissioning 

• 3rd Party Ownership and Project Development

• Long-term Service Agreements

• Operations & Maintenance 

• Green Tag (Renewable Energy Credit, Carbon Dioxide Credits, Emission Reduction Credits) Brokerage Services; Application and Permitting

We also provide midstream natural gas and upstream oil and gas products and services, again, on a vendor-neutral basis.  This includes the following products, services and solutions that include: 

• Gas Gathering System Sales

• Flare Gas Recovery

• Gas Compressors

• Glycol Dehydration

• Glycol Dehydrators

• Heater Treaters

• Natural Gas Measurement

• Vapor Recovery Units

• Stranded Gas

• Engineering and Economic Feasibility Studies 

• Project Design & Permitting

• Project Construction

• Project Funding & Financing Options

• Operations & Maintenance 

What is an Amine Plant?

Amine plants are used for "gas sweetening" in the midstream oil and gas sector known as "gas processing." 

Amine plants provide H2S removal as well as CO2 removal from natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons. The process involves both absorption and chemical reactions. 

What is Amine?

Amine, is the shortened form of " Mono Ethanol Amine" or MEA.  MEA removes H2S or acid gases through a chemical reaction with hydrogen sulfide or carbon dioxide which forms a salt compound (see Gas Sweetening diagram below). 

When the MEA has absorbed the H2S ( and carbon dioxide) it is referred to as " rich" MEA. 

When the acid gases have been removed from the mono ethanol amine it's called lean MEA

What is a "Cryogenic Plant"?

A cryogenic plant is another term for a "gas processing plant." 

Gas processing plants produce natural gas liquids products, including ethane, at very low or "cryogenic" operating temperatures.

What is Flare Gas Recovery?

Flare Gas Recovery, Waste to Fuel and Vapor Recovery Units recover valuable "waste" or vented fuels such as Biomethane that can be used to provide fuel for an onsite power generation plant.  

Flare Gas Recovery, Waste to Fuel and Vapor Recovery Units can be located in hundreds of applications and locations.  At a Wastewaster Treatment System (or Publicly Owned Treatment Works - "POTW") gases from the facility can be captured from the anaerobic digesters, and manifolded/piped to one of our onsite power generation plants, and make, essentially, "free" electricity for your facility's use.  These associated "biogases" that are  generated from municipally owned landfills or wastewater treatment plants have low btu content or heating values, ranging around 550-650 btu's.  This makes them unsuitable for use in natural gas applications. When burned as fuel to generate electricity, however, these gases become a valuable source of "renewable" power and energy for the facility's use or resale to the electric grid. 

Additionally, if heat (steam and/or hot water) is required, we will incorporate our cogeneration or trigeneration system into the project and provide some, or all, of your hot water/steam requirements. Similarly, at crude oil refineries, gas processing plants, exploration and production sites, and gasoline storage/tank farm site, we convert your facility's "waste fuel" and environmental liabilities into profitable, environmentally-friendly solutions.

What are Gas Compressors?

Gas compressors are mechanical device that increase the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. Gas compressors are responsible for moving the natural gas from the oil or natural gas production well to homes and businesses via natural gas pipelines and gas compression stations.

Gas compression also increases the temperature of the gas during compression.

What is Gas Processing?

Natural Gas Processing plants separate the various hydrocarbons and natural gas liquids from the pure natural gas (methane or CH4) to produce what is known as 'pipeline quality'  natural gas. Natural gas pipeline companies have requirements on natural gas they buy from producers which is why the natural gas processing plants are located where they are, and why they separate the ethane, propane, butane, and pentanes from the methane. Natural gas liquids or NGLs include ethane, propane, butane, iso-butane, and natural gasoline.

What is Gas Sweetening?

Sulfur exists in natural gas and is known as hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Natural gas is usually considered "sour" if hydrogen sulfides content exceeds 5.7 milligrams of H2S per cubic meter of natural gas. The process hydrogen sulfide removal from sour gas is commonly referred to as "gas sweetening."

Diagram of the Gas Sweetening Process

The primary process for sweetening "sour" natural gas ("sour" natural gas contains H2S or hydrogen sulfides) is quite similar to the processes of glycol dehydration and NGL absorption. In this case, however, amine solutions are used to remove the hydrogen sulfide. This process is known simply as the 'amine process', or alternatively as the Girdler process, and is used in 95 percent of U.S. gas sweetening operations. The sour gas is run through a tower, which contains the amine solution. This solution has an affinity for sulfur, and absorbs it much like glycol absorbing water. There are two principle amine solutions used, monoethanolamine (MEA) and diethanolamine (DEA). Either of these compounds, in liquid form, will absorb sulfur compounds from natural gas as it passes through. The effluent gas is virtually free of sulfur compounds, and thus loses its sour gas status. Like the process for NGL extraction and glycol dehydration, the amine solution used can be regenerated (that is, the absorbed sulfur is removed), allowing it to be reused to treat more sour gas.

Although most sour gas sweetening involves the amine absorption process, it is also possible to use solid desiccants like iron sponges to remove the sulfide and carbon dioxide.

Sulfur can be sold and used if reduced to its elemental form. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow powder like material, and can often be seen in large piles near gas treatment plants, as is shown. In order to recover elemental sulfur from the gas processing plant, the sulfur containing discharge from a gas sweetening process must be further treated. One sulfur recovery process is called the "Claus" process, and involves the use of thermal and catalytic reactions to extract the elemental sulfur from the hydrogen sulfide solution.

Some of the above information from www.NaturalGas.org with our thanks.

What is Glycol Dehydration?

Glycol dehydration is used in the production and processing of natural gas by using a liquid desiccant that removes water from natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL). 

Various types of glycols are used in this process including;

• triethylene glycol (TEG)

• diethylene glycol (DEG)

• ethylene glycol (MEG)

• tetraethylene glycol (TREG). 

TEG is the most commonly used glycol in the natural gas industry.

What is H2S Removal?

H2S, or Hydrogen Sulfide, is a hazardous and corrosive element found in oil and natural gas which needs to be removed from the hydrocarbon before the oil or natural gas can be sold.  The hydrogen sulfides are usually removed in a mid-stream gas processing facility by either iron sponges or amine plants.

What is a Heater Treater?

A "Heater Treater" is used in the oil and gas production process and is used to removes water and gas from the produced oil - and to improve its quality for sale into a crude oil pipeline or for other transport. A heater treater typically combines the following components inside the heater treater:  a heater, free-water knockout, and oil and gas separator.

What is the Joule Thomson effect?

The Joule Thomson effect refers to the temperature of a gas that falls when it expands without doing any work (e.g. gas at constant pressure through a small orifice).

What is a "JT Plant?"

A JT Plant, or "Joule-Thomson" plant operates as a gas processing plant in that the JT Plant operates through a natural gas pressure differential causing the temperature to fall significantly, thereby making the natural gas liquids (propane, butane, and natural gasoline) within the natural gas stream, to "condense" and fall out of the natural gas stream.

JT plants condense the heavier natural gas liquids from the natural gas stream to meet that specific natural gas pipeline's "pipeline quality gas" specifications thereby making the natural gas saleable to downstream end-users/customers.  The natural gas liquids that are produced from the JT plant are stored in tanks for eventual sale as propane, butane and natural gasoline. 

What is Natural Gas Storage?

There are periods of time in peak periods of natural gas use, that a natural gas company (pipeline or LDC) may not be able to keep up with these peak demand periods.  Natural gas storage is a way to help provide for the natural gas reserves or natural gas supplies that are needed during these peak demand periods.  Having strategically-located natural gas storage capabilities can assist natural gas pipelines or LDCs provide the natural gas supply when their customers demand. 

America's need for natural gas continues to grow.

Recent governments studies conclude that demand for clean-burning natural gas has continued to rise.  In the last 20 years, natural gas consumption has risen nearly 25%.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates there are over 2,100 Trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of "technically recoverable natural gas" reserves in the United States, as reported in the EIA's 2010 Annual Energy Outlook.  In 2009, the United States used just over 22 Trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making the U.S. one of the global leaders in natural gas consumption. This means the U.S. has enough natural gas supply to last about 100 years. 

With greater demand comes greater need to be able to store natural gas.  In the past 20 years, natural gas storage has increased less than 5%.  This creates a serious constraint that can impact our nation by failing to keep up with natural gas supply and demand.  Existing natural gas storage facilities will not be able to keep up with the demand for natural gas during increasingly greater periods of increasing demand, which could cost all consumers of natural gas billions of dollars.

More Natural Gas Storage is Needed

There is a critical need for new high-volume natural gas storage facilities to meet the escalating demand for natural gas which will provide predictability of natural gas supply and reduce or eliminate volatility of natural gas prices during peak periods.  Natural gas storage "balance" the load - or supply and demand requirements of all natural gas consumers and provides the "cushion" needed for large supplies of natural gas to serve all consumers during periods of peak demand.

Natural gas storage can take place in a number of underground natural gas facilities.  From the time the natural gas is produced, it may be stored temporarily in underground natural gas storage facilities that may be one or more of the following;  depleted oil or natural gas fields/reservoirs, salt dome caverns/salt dome storage or former aquifers. 

Most of the natural gas storage in the U.S. takes place in naturally-occurring natural gas or oil reservoirs that have been depleted through production.  An underground gas storage facility must contain enough “base gas” or “cushion gas” that provides adequate pressure to re-produce and extract the natural gas.

What is Natural Gas Treating?

As natural gas is produced from either a natural gas well, or from an oilwell which contains "associated gas," the natural gas must be treated or processed before it can be sold/injected as "pipeline quality gas" and then be used at a home or business as a fuel.

Natural gas treating or processing, takes place at gas processing plants to remove the impurities and other hydrocarbons other than the methane itself, or CH4. 

The by-products and impurities of natural gas that must be treated or processed include; ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, pentane, isopentane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, as well as H2S or elemental sulfur, carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor and sometimes helium and nitrogen.

What is "NGL Fractionation"?

Natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation plants separate the mixed natural gas liquids stream into separated products. These natural gas liquids that are separated by heat at NGL Fractionation plants include; ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline.

What is "Stranded Gas?"

Stranded Gas, also referred to as "stranded natural gas," refers to natural gas that has been discovered but has not, or will not be developed due to their location or the economics of getting the natural gas delivered to the marketplace.

Did you know that approximately 40% of the world's available natural gas reserves are classified as Stranded Gas?

The Department of Energy estimates that there are 3,000 Tcf of Stranded Gas world-wide!

Stranded Gas may be stranded - or become stranded in the future, for several reasons; 

          *  the nearest natural gas pipeline may be too far from the well in terms of the economics of running a new pipeline.
          *  the volume of natural gas produced may not be of sufficient quantities for the natural gas pipeline company.
          *  the quality of the natural gas produced may not meet the "pipeline quality gas" specifications of the natural gas pipeline 
              company.
          *  the amount of natural gas produced from the well may decline over the years to amounts that do not meet the natural gas 
              pipeline's minimum amounts among other reasons.

We provide solutions for oil and gas companies with Stranded Gas. 

One of our solutions for oil and gas companies with Stranded Gas is to use the Stranded Gas as fuel that generates clean electricity with one of our "gas to power" solutions using gas turbine generators.  Our affiliated company manufactures gas turbine gensets For as little as $785/kW (plus shipping costs and any related set-up costs) you could be generating revenues with one of our gas turbine generators!

Natural gas pipelines have transported natural gas safely, reliably, and economically to the marketplace whenever large reservoirs of natural gas are found in locations where there were existing pipelines.  Even for new natural gas fields, where there are large reservoirs and supplies of natural gas, pipelines were laid to transport the natural gas to markets.  However, natural gas supplies from easy to find, and easy to produce fields have been on the decline. This leaves the "stranded gas" from the fields that have not been developed due to the economics, location, or the supply was not large enough. "Stranded gas" wells and reservoirs are becoming increasingly attractive opportunities as we can make the stranded gas a new profit center for your company.

We can help your company turn unproductive, zero revenue stranded gas assets into economic cash flows and a new source or revenues.  Stranded gas wells with a nearby electric transmission line with a minimum production of approximately 70,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day - can become a new profit center with our assistance!  

Do you have a minimum of 400 mcf/day from your stranded gas well?  If yes, we can install an affiliated company's gas turbine generator and generate about 1.0 MW of electricity, 24 x 7 x 365.

We can take Stranded Gas gas wells that have been plugged & abandoned years ago, and make them productive and profitable by taking the Stranded Gas and placing  one or more of our power plants at or near the site - and using the Stranded Gas as the fuel to generate power, selling the electricity to the electric grid - thereby creating a new profit center from shut-in wells.  Shut-in natural gas wells can be made productive, with new revenues from generating our gas to power solutions.  Or, if there is a nearby commercial or industrial operation that needs hot water or steam, we can develop a cogeneration power plant as well, selling them the thermal energy and the power to the electric grid.

It's much easier to transport electrons long distances, than it is to transport natural gas long distances.

Alternatively, depending on the location, we may be able to place LNG equipment near Stranded Gas wells and convert the natural gas to Liquefied Natural Gas, and then transport the LNG to a nearby market.

We provide Flare Gas Recovery, Vapor Recovery Units and "Stranded Gas" solutions. We offer turnkey, "vendor-neutral" power/energy project development products and services.  Unlike most companies, we are equipment supplier/vendor neutral. This means we help our clients select the best equipment for their specific application. This approach provides our customers with superior performance, decreased operating expenses and increased return on investment.

What is a Vapor Recovery Unit?

A vapor recovery unit is a device that captures or recovers valuable volatile organic compounds and other rich gas streams that may otherwise be a significant environmental pollutant or hazardous air pollutant.  A well designed vapor recovery unit can pay for itself in less than 3 years and simultaneously mitigate a company's exposure to environmental liabilities. 

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What is "Cogeneration"?

Did you know that 10% of our nation's electricity now comes from "cogeneration" plants?

And because cogeneration is so efficient, it saves its customers up to 40% on their energy expenses, and provides even greater savings to our environment through significant reductions in fuel usage and much lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Cogeneration - also known as “combined heat and power” (CHP), cogen, district energy, total energy, and combined cycle, is the simultaneous production of heat (usually in the form of hot water and/or steam) and power, utilizing one primary fuel such as natural gas, or a renewable fuel, such as Biomethane, B100 Biodiesel, or Synthesis Gas.

Cogeneration technology is not the latest industry buzz-word being touted as the solution to our nation's energy woes. Cogeneration is a proven technology that has been around for over 120 years!

Our nation's first commercial power plant was a cogeneration plant that was designed and built by Thomas Edison in 1882 in New York. Our nation's first commercial power plant was called the "Pearl Street Station."

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What is "Cogeneration"?

Did you know that 10% of our nation's electricity now comes from "cogeneration" plants?

And because cogeneration is so efficient, it saves its customers up to 40% on their energy expenses, and provides even greater savings to our environment through significant reductions in fuel usage and much lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Cogeneration - also known as “combined heat and power” (CHP), cogen, district energy, total energy, and combined cycle, is the simultaneous production of heat (usually in the form of hot water and/or steam) and power, utilizing one primary fuel such as natural gas, or a renewable fuel, such as Biomethane, B100 Biodiesel, or Synthesis Gas.

Cogeneration technology is not the latest industry buzz-word being touted as the solution to our nation's energy woes. Cogeneration is a proven technology that has been around for over 120 years!

Our nation's first commercial power plant was a cogeneration plant that was designed and built by Thomas Edison in 1882 in New York. Our nation's first commercial power plant was called the "Pearl Street Station."

What is "Trigeneration"?

Trigeneration is the simultaneous production of three forms of energy - typically, Cooling, Heating and Power - from only one fuel input. Put another way, our trigeneration power plants produce three different types of energy for the price of one.

Trigeneration energy systems can reach overall system efficiencies of 86% to 93%.  Typical "central" power plants, that do not need the heat generated from the combustion and power generation process, are only about 33% efficient.

Trigeneration Diagram & Description
Trigeneration Power Plants' Have the Highest System Efficiencies and are 
About 300 % More Efficient than Typical Central Power Plants

Trigeneration plants are installed at locations that can benefit from all three forms of energy.  These types of installations that install trigeneration energy systems are called "onsite power generation" also referred to as "decentralized energy."   

One of our company's principal's first experience with the design and development of a trigeneration power plant was the trigeneration power plant installation at Rice University in 1987 where our trigeneration development team started out by conducting a "cogeneration" feasibility study.  The EPC contractor that Rice University selected installed the trigeneration power which included a 4.0 MW Ruston gas turbine power plant, along with waste heat recovery boilers and Absorption Chillers.  A "waste heat recovery boiler" captures the heat from the exhaust of the gas turbine.  From there, the recovered energy was converted to chilled water - originally from (3) Hitachi Absorption Chillers - 2 were rated at 1,000 tons each, and the third Hitachi Absorption Chiller was rated at 1,500 tons. The Hitachi Absorption Chillers were replaced shortly after their installation by the EPC company.  The first trigeneration plant at Rice University was so successful, they added a second 5.0 MW trigeneration plant so today, Rice University is now generating about 9.0 MW of electricity, and also producing the cooling and heating the university needs from the trigeneration plant and circulating the trigeneration energy around its campus.

Trigeneration Chart
Trigeneration's "Super-Efficiency" compared 
with other competing technologies
As you can see, there is No Competition for Trigeneration!

Our trigeneration power plants are the ideal onsite power and energy solution for customers that include:  Data Centers, Hospitals, Universities, Airports, Central Plants, Colleges & Universities, Dairies, Server Farms, District Heating & Cooling Plants, Food Processing Plants, Golf/Country Clubs, Government Buildings, Grocery Stores, Hotels, Manufacturing Plants, Nursing Homes, Office Buildings / Campuses, Radio Stations, Refrigerated Warehouses, Resorts, Restaurants, Schools, Server Farms, Shopping Centers, Supermarkets, Television Stations, Theatres and Military Bases.

At about 86% to 93% net system efficiency, our trigeneration power plants are about 300% more efficient at providing energy than your current electric utility. That's because the typical electric utility's power plants are only about 33% efficient - they waste 2/3 of the fuel in generating electricity in the enormous amount of waste heat energy that they exhaust through their smokestacks.

Trigeneration is defined as the simultaneous production of three energies: Cooling, Heating and Power.  Our trigeneration energy systems use the same amount of fuel in producing three energies that would normally only produce just one type of energy. This means our customers that have our trigeneration power plants have significantly lower energy expenses, and a lower carbon footprint.

Our New "Integrated" Trigeneration Plants Have 
Very High Efficiencies & Low Fuel Costs

The Effective Heat Rate is Approximately 
4050 btu/kW & System Efficiency is 92% Plants Have 
Very High Efficiencies & Low Fuel Costs

Pictures (below) of a Cogeneration Plant Presently Being Built for New Customer.  

This Cogeneration Plant is Rated at 900 kW and Features:
(2) Natural Gas Engines @ 450 kW each on one Skid with Optional 
Selective Catalytic Reduction system that removes Nitrogen Oxides to "non-detect."

Our onsite trigeneration power and energy system can be an ideal solution for customers wanting increased power reliability and decreased energy and environmental costs.  A few of the types of buildings and businesses that would benefit from an onsite trigeneration plant include the following:

• Airports

• Casinos

• Central Plants

• Colleges & Universities

• Dairies

• Data Centers 

• District Heating & Cooling plants

• Food Processing Plants

• Golf/Country Clubs

• Government Buildings and Facilities 

• Grocery Stores

• Hospitals 

• Hotels

• Manufacturing Plants

• Military Bases

• Nursing Homes 

• Office Buildings / Campuses

• Radio Stations

• Refrigerated Warehouses 

• Resorts 

• Restaurants 

• Schools

• Server Farms

• Shopping centers 

• Supermarkets 

• Television Stations

• Theatres

Waste Heat Recovery in Cogeneration and 
Trigeneration power and energy systems

In most cogeneration and trigeneration power and energy systems, the exhaust gas from the electric generation equipment is ducted to a heat exchanger to recover the thermal energy in the gas. These heat exchangers are air-to-water heat exchangers, where the exhaust gas flows over some form of tube and fin heat exchange surface and the heat from the exhaust gas is transferred to make hot water or steam. The hot water or steam is then used to provide hot water or steam heating and/or to operate thermally activated equipment, such as an absorption chiller for cooling or a desiccant dehumidifer for dehumidification.

Many of the waste heat recovery technologies used in building co/trigeneration systems require hot water, some at moderate pressures of 15 to 150 psig. In the cases where additional steam or pressurized hot water is needed, it may be necessary to provide supplemental heat to the exhaust gas with a duct burner.

In some applications air-to-air heat exchangers can be used. In other instances, if the emissions from the generation equipment are low enough, such as is with many of the microturbine technologies, the hot exhaust gases can be mixed with make-up air and vented directly into the heating system for building heating.

In the majority of installations, a flapper damper or "diverter" is employed to vary flow across the heat transfer surfaces of the heat exchanger to maintain a specific design temperature of the hot water or steam generation rate.

Typical Waste Heat Recovery Installation

In some co/trigeneration designs, the exhaust gases can be used to activate a thermal wheel or a desiccant dehumidifier. Thermal wheels use the exhaust gas to heat a wheel with a medium that absorbs the heat and then transfers the heat when the wheel is rotated into the incoming airflow.

A professional engineer should be involved in designing and sizing of the waste heat recovery section. For a proper and economical operation, the design of the heat recovery section involves consideration of many related factors, such as the thermal capacity of the exhaust gases, the exhaust flow rate, the sizing and type of heat exchanger, and the desired parameters over a various range of operating conditions of the co/trigeneration system — all of which need to be considered for proper and economical operation.

For more information on Waste Heat Recovery and Waste Heat Boilers, call/email us.

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Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Since the year 1750

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World CO2 since 1750 (cubic feet)

World Carbon Dioxide Emissions since 1750 (cubic feet)

The carbon clock tracks total carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons since 1750.

Since 1750, humans have emitted over 5 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Roughly half of this has ended up in the oceans where it is beginning to damage the coral reefs. The other half is still in the atmosphere and causing global warming. Each pound of CO2 takes up as much space as a 500 pound person.

The formula (which should be good for a year or two) is:
C(t) = 2.58 ×1012 + 1240×t, where t is seconds since the start of 2007.

C is tonnes (metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions.
2205 x C gives pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

That comes to over 43 billion tons/year or over 86 trillion pounds/year.

Carbon dioxide (2) = 1 carbon atom with 2 oxygen atoms.
Carbon has relative weight 12 and Oxygen 16.
So it takes only 12 pounds of carbon to make 12+16+16 = 44 pounds of CO2. 

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Photo courtesy of Alaska Image Library. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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How we make and distribute electricity is changing! 

The electric power generation, transmission and distribution system (the electric "grid") is changing and evolving from the electric grid of the 19th and 20th centuries, which was inefficient, highly-polluting, very expensive and “dumb.”  

The "old" way of generating and distributing energy resembles this slide:

According to Monty Goodell, Founder and Chairman of the Renewable Energy Institute, "our increased dependence and reliance on foreign energy supplies represents a Clear and Present Danger to our national security, our economy, and the lives and livelihood of every American. Energy - including the energy we use from imported fossil fuels, is the very "lifeblood" of the American economy as it is for every industrialized country.  An economy dies without it's lifeblood of energy. This Clear and Present Danger we face is far more serious than the problems related to greenhouse gas emissions.  And while greenhouse gas emissions are very serious issue, in the long-term, pales in comparison to America's vital national security interests and America's economic stability in the short term.  For this reason alone, America needs to transition away from its addiction to foreign energy supplies. And America's abundant renewable energy resources such as the energy we receive from the sun, and renewable energy technologies such as concentrated solar power (CSP) plants - can supply 100% of America's power requirements with a concentrating solar power plant measuring 75 miles by 75 miles, located in the Southwest U.S.  By generating America's power from concentrating solar power plants, America resolves its' short-term Clear and Present Danger as it relates to importing its energy from foreign countries, and the long-term problems relating to greenhouse gas emissions."

Continuing, Mr. Goodell states that "too many Americans have forgotten what happened to us in 1973, when the Arabs and OPEC brought the United States economy to a screeching halt during the OPEC Oil Embargo.  This happened because they (mainly the country of Saudi Arabia) disagreed with our foreign policy and is the reason why they "turned off the tap" of our need for their oil supplies. When Saudi Arabia and OPEC stopped the vital flow of oil to our country in 1973, they caused an "oil shock" that severely and negatively impacted our economy. 

Mr. Goodell's question for us to ponder is, "do these countries who sell us 60% of our daily energy requirements, like us and our foreign policy, or might they leverage our addiction to their fossil fuels, and turn off the tap to make us adjust or revise our foreign policy??  Like any addict, America's foreign policy may be held hostage to its addiction, and in this case, our addiction to foreign oil, may over-ride our national interests."

Have American's forgotten the gas shortages and long lines at 
their gas stations to get gas during the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973?

"Apparently so."  Mr. Goodell states that "in 1973, America was 'addicted' and 'over the barrel' of foreign oil to the amount of 40%.  Forty percent of our energy 'needs' in 1973 came from countries - many of which didn't like us then, and I'm afraid, many of them still don't.  The difference between 1973 and today - is that today we receive 50% MORE foreign oil now than we did in 1973.  And now we know about the problems relating to greenhouse gas emissions that we didn't know then.  America needs to change course, and change course now, in terms of its' energy supplies and how we keep America's economy strong, without the threat of being held hostage to a middle-east tyrant or regime, that could once again, turn on us, and turn off our supply of foreign oil." 

Remember ????

"Sadly, most Americans have forgotten the long lines of people waiting in their cars - lined up and waiting for gasoline at their nearby gas station, with lines that were many blocks long.  And, after waiting 4-5 hours, many even waiting overnight in many places, to finally take their turn to fill up their car with gasoline, only to find that the gas station had run out of gas."

"Let me Repeat.... That was 1973 when we imported 40% of our daily energy requirements in the form of crude oil from overseas, and from foreign countries - and many of these from countries that don't like us.

Today, over 35 years later, America has yet to learn the lesson.  We cannot continue our reliance on energy from foreign countries that supply us with 60% of the crude oil that our refineries use as a feedstock for producing gasoline and diesel fuel for our cars and trucks comes from overseas. 

America is "over the barrel" and it's not our barrel, but the barrels of oil that we are addicted by and owned by other countries.  Why have we not learned the lessons we needed to learn in 1973 when we were cut-off from the vital energy supplies we need? 

Countries like China, are growing rapidly, and have an insatiable need for crude oil. China, with their booming economy, is increasingly growing in its clout and control over international supplies of crude oil - whether they do this through their ability to buy as much oil as they need on a daily basis, or whether they simply but American drilling rigs, technology, and explore and produce oil and gas from their own fields. China, is buying large amounts of oil for their country, and causing upward pricing on declining supplies. What happens if Russia, with all of their oil and natural gas, along with China and Venezuela, with or without the help of OPEC, decided to NOT sell oil to us????

To be sure, greenhouse gas emissions are a problem, and to some, greenhouse gas emissions are also a Clear and Present Danger, but not to the extent that it presents an imminent Clear and Present Danger. 

America's reliance for 60% of our energy "needs" coming from foreign suppliers is un-acceptable.

The "driver" to get America to begin reducing and eliminating fossil fuel use should be our nation's national security and the welfare and safety of its citizens. And this can all begin with developing and investing in our own renewable energy resources and renewable energy technologies, let's start by putting solar on every rooftop that has a clear and unobstructed view of the Southern sky. See www.RooftopPV.com  or  www.DistributedPV.com  for more information.  Let's create incentives begin with adopting a national "Feed In Tariff" as Germany did in 1990. 

We simply do NOT have the luxury of time on our hands.  We need to end our dependence and reliance on foreign fossil fuels, especially from countries that don't like us! We need to rapidly begin expanding renewable energy resources and renewable energy technologies from our vast and abundant renewable energy resources, such as; solar, solar energy systems, solar cogeneration, solar trigeneration, "solar on every roof," along with; Biomass Gasification, B100 Biodiesel, Biomethane, E100 Ethanol (from cellulosic, agricultural waste, sugar cane, etc., and NOT from corn), Geothermal Power Plants, Natural Wastewater Treatment, Synthesis Gas, Waste To Energy, Waste To Fuel and Wind Power Generation where it makes economic and environmental sense."

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