April 1977 RAIN page 77 HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS, includins pumped storage facilities (1971, Federal Power Commission)-Hydro power ie not mentioned in the FEA and ERDA documents, re{lecting its limited role in tederal plans lor enelgy supply grrowth. As ol January 19?1, the total operating capacily oI U.S. hydro plants wae 51,90O megawatts, and growing at about {ive percent each year. Even il hydro Iacilitieg continue to expand at recent rates, it is not likely that it will supply a larger ehare of total U.S. enerqy congumed (1g75, Energv Alternatives, Council on Environmental Quality). WIND RESOURCES (19?S, ERDA Sandia Laboratories)-The small circlea on the map are sites where regular wind measurementg are taken. The numbers on the map show average wind power in electr! cal liguree. The gcale at right showg wind velocity equivalents. ERDA asgesement: "The intermittent nature oI wind and the wide qeographical and seasonal variations in the availability of wind energy necessitates either inter-ties oI wind en€rgy systems with conventional energy syslems, or energy storage capabilitiee.... The advancee and toole developed in recent yeara in the helicopter industry are only now being applied to thie area. No Iundamental unknowns exiet; however, many uncertaintiee remain in terms oI designing lor long Iile and low capltal Average Wind Measurements Hydroelectric Plants CAPACITY, Mw . IOO-499 . ovER 499 n SOLAR RESOURCES 09?4, Atomic Energy Commiasion)-ERDA asaeesment: "Solar energy represents a huge and virtually inexhauetible eupply of energy that ie widely available over the United States. It could eupply ag much as 25 percent of the Nation'e {uture energy needs by 2O2O il costs o{ collecting and using eolar energy can be reduced eubstantially.,, ltut' rLO :,; Average Solar Measurements an area many people might think unreiated to energy awareness-our national parks. Especially excellent are the "People and Resources" and "Energy Maps" issues, numbers 1 and 4, respectively. We've reprinted here a sampling of energy maps, larger versions of which are available from PPEI as long as suppiies last. Also novel yet full of common sense is the idea of "going out of business when you're done and ifter you've gomen rhe ball rolling," as they have done. (Courtesy Nancy Shirk, Kirk Marckwald) tolor hsol in Btu / lr2 pe, Co)
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