The evolution of electricity demand in WECC region
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The economy begins a slow but steady recovery, and coupled with continued population growth drives a return to electricity demand growth. High fuel prices drive incremental electric vehicle adoption.
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The evolution of electricity supply in the WECC region
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Renewables struggle to grow in early years, but new investment and coal plant retirements trigger a resurgence of development, renewable generation takes off in last decade with increased deployment of on-site generation and storage.
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Innovation in electricity supply technology & distribution systems
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Slow and incremental technology innovation in the sector is mirrored in new generation development and operational and communications improvements. Renewables innovations pick up in the later years. Increased technology innovation in gas-fired turbines continues to drive natural gas for new generation.
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The course of regional economic growth in the WECC region
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Growth in the early years remains slow, and leads the WECC states and provinces to enact legislation to support economic development. The economy picks up in the middle years, followed by growth in the later years.
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Changes in the regulation of electric power systems in the WECC region
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States and provinces continue to drive energy policy in early years. The WECC region begins to manage the power industry with better optimization of generation and transmission across the Western Interconnection.
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Changes in federal regulation affecting electric power industry
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The U.S. and Canada establish federal national energy policies to drive toward energy independence. A national energy policy is enacted, including a carbon tax.
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Changes in social values related to energy issues
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Consumer demand for customer-centric energy independence drives demands for energy-efficiency products, onsite generation and storage, etc. The public and investors begin to implement local community grids with clean generation.
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Changes in society’s preferences for environmental & natural resources
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Impacts of natural gas extraction cause states to look at increasing RPS standards. Centrist policies support reasonable energy infrastructure development leaning more towards renewables in the later years.
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Shifts in national & global financial markets
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Stabilization of financial markets following changes in deficit spending in the U.S. and other nations. Global financial markets return to normal credit patterns.
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Shifts in the availability & prices of commodity fuels used in the electricity sector
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Natural gas remains a clear choice for new dispatchable and replacement of coal fired generation in the early years.
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