Author: dickstormprobizblog and dickstormenergyelectricity.org
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Coal: An Important Fuel for Future Electricity Generation
Coal remains important and new coal plants are needed. Here are a dozen reasons: 1. The growth of new electricity generation capacity is projected to be 100 GW by 2030 and 800 GW by 2050 2. With de-regulation, no Utility is held accountable for expanding growth of Dispatchable generation as Regional Utilities did in the…
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Back to Basics, Part II: Coal and Gas Electricity Generation Production Cost Comparison
Thermal power generation by natural gas fueled gas turbines is the most common for Dispatchability when electricity demand rises. As an example, let’s take a look at the PJM Interconnection on July 2, 2026. Gas, nuclear and coal provided most of the electricity generation needed with gas providing nearly 50% of total electricity generation. In…
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Back to Basics: A Primer on Primary Energy
“The cavemen had the same natural resources at their disposal as we havetoday, and the difference between their standard of living and ours is a difference between the knowledge they could bring to bear on those resources and the knowledge used today…..” Thomas Sowell Continuing Sowell’s quote…. “To produce sufficient energy that drives our economy,…
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Some of the Axis of Evil Regarding Climate Policies
Since about 2009 I have given talks and presentations, did radio “Energy Fact Minutes” and written numerous articles on anti-American climate policies and the war on coal. I have been curious for literally two decades of why are so many U.S. politicians and influential people so against conventional energy? From my perspective, of having a…
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Armando Cavanha Podcast with Ron Stein and Dick Storm to discuss Nuclear Power and Some of the Obstacles to Building New Plants
Armando Cavanha had Ron Stein and myself to join his podcast to discuss our views and concerns regarding the building of new nuclear plants in the U.S. A. Here is Armando’s Podcast link, which I was honored to join. https://www.youtube.com/live/2aAzpBiRR2k Normally I focus on coal power but in this podcast I spoke from personal experience…
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Musings of a Nuclear Engineer and a Coal Power Engineer on the Adequacy of Bulk Power Supply for the Future
This document summarizes discussions of Don Spellman, a senior nuclear engineer, retired U.S. Navy Submarine officer and Dick Storm, a retired coal power engineer. We have had ongoing discussions for several years regarding the inadequacy of new replacement of Dispatchable or Base Load capable coal and/or nuclear power plants. Therefore, We decided to jointly write this article to share our views. Introduction America’s Grid grew from the days of Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse to about the 1990’s in an…
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Thoughts on Primary Energy and the Way the World Really Works
The Developed world and the Developing countries depend on energy to run. Developing countries need reliable PRIMARY Energy to progress from muscle power to machines and the Developed countries, including China and India require lots of reliable primary energy to sustain their quality of life. I am one of the few people who focus on…
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Progress in Clean Coal Combustion Is a Remarkable Achievement, So, Let’s Get on with Building More New Coal Plants
New Modern Coal Plants are Needed for Energy Security, Grid Reliability, Affordable Electricity Generation and Without Pollution, so let me explain some of the details of the equipment used to clean the flue gases and the progress made in cleaning the air since 1970 Short History of Air Pollution Control The EPA was started in…
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Perceptions vs. Reality
If it was simply the laws of Physics, Economics and Global Experiences of which source of Bulk Power was Best; then coal power plants would be on order by the hundreds. How can we fix the poor perceptions of coal power? Here are my thoughts. Energy Powers Life as We Know It America runs on…
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Pros and Cons of Renewable and Conventional Electricity Generation in the Red State of S.C., Part 2
President Trump and Lee Zeldin have done their part at the Federal level to restore energy policy rationality and sanity to the U.S. However, the Deep Swamp and numerous states still have laws that are roadblocks to installing new Dispatchable, Reliable and Affordable coal power plants. Here are my thoughts on this irrationality
