The Electric Utility Industry

The Electric Utility Industryby Ian M. Torrens and Kurt E. Yeager

Summary by Sean Perry

OverviewOverviewCorporate Stewardship

Environmental practices of EEI

Importance of measurement and communication

Criticisms of electricity

Opportunities for improvement

Promising electrical technologies

Ways of preventing pollution

Corporate StewardshipCorporate

StewardshipNew emphasis on sustainable development

Public concern over climate changes

Investor concerns over future liability

Efforts to improve public image

Increasing environmental regulations

Six Imperatives for Environmental Management

Six Imperatives for Environmental Management

Clearly define policy

Utilize good measurement

Establish dialogue with stake-holders

Question “business as usual”

Satisfy all stake-holders

Integrate stewardship into all decisions

(Hedstrom and McLean, 1993)

Edison Electric Institute Practices

Edison Electric Institute PracticesCorporate environmental commitment

Environmental measurement, reporting

Pollution prevention and waste minimization

Employee training and responsibility

Proactive environmental stewardship

Importance of CommunicationImportance of

CommunicationSolid commitment of top managers

Clear and effective communication to middle-management and other employees

Clearly integrated into all other corporate goals

Employee training on environmental matters

Employee input on stewardship practices

Importance of MeasurementImportance of Measurement

Set clear goals for waste/emissions

Allows industry standard

Environmental Performance Indicators

Materials usedNumber of environmental

accidents

Energy used Product impact during use

CO2Emissions of other air pollutants

Water consumed Expenditure on env. protection

Waste streams Total resource use

Water effluents Environment based liabilities

Percentage of waste recycledPercentage of recycled materials

used

Criticisms of Electricity

Criticisms of Electricity

Air, water, soil pollution

Safety and (nuclear) waste disposal

Health impacts of exposure to EM fields

Greenhouse gas emissions

Opportunities for Improvement

Opportunities for Improvement

Switching to cleaner primary energy sources

Improving efficiency of generation, delivery, and use

Reducing pollution through better control of byproducts

Substituting electrical technologies for those currently using fossil fuels

Beneficial Electrification

Beneficial Electrification

Emerging “electrotechnologies” may prove environmentally cleaner than alternatives

Numerous applications developing over the next twenty years

New business opportunities for sustainable development

Technology Examples

Technology Examples

Industry: Infrared Heating, Electric-arc Furnace, Ultrasound Textile Dyeing

Waste/Water Treatment: Ozonation, Electron-beam Disinfection, Desalination

Medical Waste Treatment: Electropyrolysis, Microwave treatment, Plasma processing

TransportationTransportationElectric vehicles more efficient

Greatly reduces noise pollution

Legislation requires increased production of EV’s within the next few years

Ten times cleaner than the most efficient gasoline-powered car

Electric rail transportation also holds great promise for public transportation

Pollution PreventionPollution

PreventionUse of high volume byproducts in construction applications

Recycling antifreeze via re-distillation and reconstitution

Reducing use of cleaning chemicals and/or processing the chemicals for reuse in other applications

Using contaminated soil in asphalt

Recycling used solvents

Seeking alternative, non-toxic paints and paint removal techniques

Composting bio-fouling waste to reduced volume

Life-Cycle Cost Management

Life-Cycle Cost Management

Base decisions on the costs associated with entire life cycle of materials

Effective waste accounting methodology

Using full-cost accounting to price products according to their total environmental cost

ConclusionsConclusionsElectricity can help achieve sustainable development

Versatility gives electricity distinct advantages

Currently emerging technologies will assist the growth and cleanliness of the industry

Responsibility for electricity providers

The Electric Utility

Industry

The Electric Utility

IndustryA Critique by John Cadwell

Critical AnalysisCritical AnalysisIndustries are changing

What results

Pies in the sky?

Intent of Content

Conclusion

Motivation for Means

Motivation for MeansPhilosophy of Stewardship

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Human Need

Kant’s Uber-corporation

The Almighty Dollar

Results of Industrial Evolution

Results of Industrial EvolutionThe Good

The Bad

The Ugly

Dreaming Out LoudDreaming Out LoudSometimes deserves laughing out loud

The end of the rope?

Nobody ever refers to the ‘Ordinary Genius’

What did they say?What did they say?Optimism never hurt

anybody

Put your money where your mouth is

If you shoot from the hip, sometimes you shoot your foot…

Concluding Remarks

Concluding Remarks

Idealistic

Provides Direction and Inspiration

Update for the Times

Stay Focused

Questions?

Questions?