{"73284":{"#nid":"73284","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Study Debunks Six Myths About Electricity in the South","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EClean\nenergy can help meet growing electricity demand and minimize pollution in the southern\nUnited States, but progress to adopt renewable energy strategies has been\nhindered by a number of myths, according to a new study by Georgia Tech and\nDuke University researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe\nstudy, published in the journal \u003Cem\u003EEnergy Policy\u003C\/em\u003E, debunks popular myths\nabout clean energy that have been promulgated by policymakers, business leaders\nand advocacy groups in the South. \u0026nbsp;Those\nmyths \u0026shy;\u2013 encompassing both sides of the clean energy debate \u2013 may affect how\nthe South responds to what is expected to be a 28 percent rise in population\nwithin the next 20 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe\nSouth has an abundance of sustainable energy technologies and resources, but\nmisperceptions about their availability and readiness result in support for\nconventional energy systems,\u201d said Marilyn Brown, co-author and professor in\nGeorgia Tech\u2019s School of Public Policy. \u201cOur research is motivated by the hope\nthat promoting fact-informed dialogue can tackle such barriers and clear the\nway for a more sustainable energy future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EUsing\nan energy-economic modeling tool, researchers analyzed the following six myths,\nidentified through their earlier research on energy in the South:\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnergy efficiency and renewable energy by themselves\n     cannot meet the South\u2019s growing electricity demand;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe South does not have sufficient renewable energy\n     resources to meet a Federal Renewable Energy Standard;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERenewable energy cannot be promoted without escalating\n     electricity rates;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnergy efficiency and renewable energy policies are not\n     compatible;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy\n     policies are sufficient to retire existing coal plants and reduce air\n     pollution;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPower resource decisions have little impact on water\n     resources.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe\nresearchers found that energy efficiency and renewable energy can work together\nto meet projected growth without escalating electricity rates. The study also indicates\nthat implementing renewable electricity standards and other complementary\npolicies could stabilize greenhouse gas emissions. Coupling these policies with\nstronger regulations, such as a $15 per ton carbon tax, could help retire\ncoal-fired power plants and reduce emissions by 23 percent compared to today\u2019s\nlevels. The researchers also found that while energy impact on water usage is\nlargely ignored, renewable and efficient options could hold water-saving\nbenefits\u2014up to one trillion liters in 2030\u2014for this drought-prone region.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMyths\nabout clean electricity shape perceptions and have delayed progress in the\nSouth,\u201d said Etan Gumerman, the study\u2019s co-author and senior policy analyst at\nDuke\u2019s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. \u201cWe hope that by\ncasting doubt on these myths, we can begin a productive discussion about\naffordable clean electricity and how it could shape public policies.\u201d \u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETo\nreview the paper, \u201cMyths and Facts about Electricity in the U.S. South,\u201d\nvisit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nicholasinstitute.duke.edu\/myths-and-facts-about-electricity-in-the-u.s.-south\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.nicholasinstitute.duke.edu\/myths-and-facts-about-electricity-in-the-u.s.-south\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Research Suggests Clean Energy Can Help Meet Growing Demand"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EClean\nenergy can help meet growing electricity demand and minimize pollution in the southern\nUnited States, but progress to adopt renewable energy strategies has been\nhindered by a number of myths, according to a new study by Georgia Tech and\nDuke University researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech and Duke researchers suggest clean energy can meet growing demand in the south, despite myths."}],"uid":"27560","created_gmt":"2011-12-01 17:35:57","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:10:42","author":"Jason Maderer","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2011-12-01T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2011-12-01T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"66480":{"id":"66480","type":"image","title":"Marilyn Brown","body":null,"created":"1449177169","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:12:49","changed":"1475894592","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:43:12","alt":"Marilyn Brown","file":{"fid":"192552","name":"marilyn_brown_200x300.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/marilyn_brown_200x300_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/marilyn_brown_200x300_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":36458,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/marilyn_brown_200x300_0.jpg?itok=FKaTUdtl"}}},"media_ids":["66480"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.iac.gatech.edu\/","title":"Ivan Allen College"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.spp.gatech.edu\/","title":"School of Public Policy"}],"groups":[{"id":"1183","name":"Home"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"11435","name":"Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College"},{"id":"479","name":"Green Buzz"},{"id":"330","name":"Marilyn Brown"},{"id":"167078","name":"School of Public Policy"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJason Maderer\u003Cbr \/\u003EGeorgia Tech Media Relations\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-385-2966\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:maderer@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emaderer@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maderer@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}