The distributed power movement and alternative energytechnologies got a boost from American Gas Association (AGA)Chairman David Biegler last week in his remarks at the 17thCongress of the World Energy Council (WEC) in Houston.

“Distributed power is attractive to consumers, especially infacilities like manufacturing plants, laundries and hospitals thatneed both electric power and thermal energy,” the Texas UtilitiesCEO said. “It can cut costs, provide waste heat for on-site use andimprove power quality and reliability.” He predicted distributedpower could provide as much as 50 gigawatts of power by 2015,compared to less than 2 gigawatts today.

“Fuel cells, which can be powered by a variety of fuels,including hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, natural gas and liquefiedpetroleum gas, are close to being commercially viable for use insupplying electricity for such facilities as office complexes,hospitals, hotels and military installations.”

In touting alternative technologies, Biegler picked up on atheme running through the WEC’s meeting, which is held once everythree years. Many speakers emphasized the role of technology bothin meeting future energy demand and in remedying harmful effects onthe environment.

“There is no reason why we cannot develop and deploytechnologies that virtually eliminate the cause of acid rain andthe release of smog-forming pollutants,” Secretary of Energy BillRichardson said during his address to the congress. “Many nationsrepresented here today have first-of-a-kind coal gasification andadvanced combustion plants that remove 95% or more of thesepollutants before they escape into the atmosphere – all whileraising power generation efficiencies above 50%. The task is now tomake these technologies more commercially viable.”

Despite being a big gas booster, the AGA chairman conceded herecognizes no single fuel or technology can satisfy even theworld’s near-term energy needs. “And in any case, no matter howobjective or authoritative our projections, they stand an excellentchance of being overturned by events geopolitical, technological,or even climatic far sooner than any of us expect.”

Biegler cited a 1985 book on energy that labeled as marginallyeconomic enhanced oil recovery, tight gas, and coal seam gas.”Today, just 13 years later, these are mainstream technologies. Thesame book relegated thermoelectric solar, photovoltaic solar, gashydrates and fusion to the uneconomic category. In 1998, both solaralternatives are commercially viable, while development workcontinues in fusion and hydrates.”

Joe Fisher, Houston

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