Electricity+costs+of+a+small+town+compared+to+a+city

First off the location fo the experiment is the Susquehanna river located in Marysville, Pennsylvania. I'm going to figure out what kind of power a small town like Marysville uses. So first off I have to find out what kind of energy uses the town of Marysville utilizes. After finding out the usages and the types of fuel used for each thing, I'm going to try different energies and see which would be better in the case, or more effective. There are three main energies I'm going to use in this experiment which will power the town. The first energy is hydroelectric powered dams which I believe will prove to be the most effecient in terms of pros and cons because of the avilability and closeness of a river. The second energy is coal, which I believe will prove to be cost efficient based upon the availability of closeness, but possible environmentally bad. Lastly I will be using wind turbines, which may end up being a terrible idea based upon the location of said turbines because of lack of wind. Basically the Susquehanna river nearby will be the energy - hydroelectricity will prove to be the most efficient. I will be researching how many kilowats it takes and the monthly electric bill of the town. Then i will research estimates on city electricity costs and compare it to Marysville.

The town of Marysville has an average nubmer of 2.3 people per household, they have about 2,650 people according to estimates, and average about 1,152 houses for the town. In Marysville electricity costs per month are about $103,680. For yearly they are about $1,244,160 which is a large number for a small town.

Some percentages of where this electricty goes is heating, lighting, plumbing, and socketry. Sadly the demographics did not reveal the other electricity uses and is going to be ousted out from the experiment.

__**Heating for the town of Marysville: (this will just be used as an example of fuels used in Marysville)**__ Fuel, oil, kerosene, etc - 75% Electric 22% coal 1% Wood 1%

__**Pros:**__ [] Here are some of the disadvantages. Hydroelectric dams can harm many species that live on the area, the land around the dam can be destroyed, and the furious turbines will kill the fish.
 * __Hydroelectricity__**
 * __Pros and Cons__**:
 * Hydropower offers advantages over other energy sources but faces unique environmental challenges.
 * Hydropower is a fueled by water, so it's a clean fuel source. Hydropower doesn't pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.
 * Hydropower is a domestic source of energy, produced in the United States.
 * Hydropower relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, thus it's a renewable power source.
 * Hydropower is generally available as needed; engineers can control the flow of water through the turbines to produce electricity on demand.
 * Hydropower plants provide benefits in addition to clean electricity. Impoundment hydropower creates reservoirs that offer a variety of recreational opportunities, notably fishing, swimming, and boating. Most hydropower installations are required to provide some public access to the reservoir to allow the public to take advantage of these opportunities. Other benefits may include water supply and flood control.
 * __Cons:__**

The Susquehanna already uses some major hydroelectric dams in Pennsylvania. Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility generates electricity for peak demand, which is typically during the morning and early evening hours. At night, as electricity demand decreases, the units are reversed and used as pumps to fill the upper reservoir for subsequent peak demand periods. 172 Bethesda Church Rd West Holtwood, Pennsylvania 17532
 * __The Susquehanna:__**

Read more: [|Pros & Cons of Fossil Fuels | eHow.com] [|http://www.ehow.com/about_4812490_pros-cons-fossil-fuels.html#ixzz1ZRt4TgWd] Read more: [|Pros & Cons of Fossil Fuels | eHow.com] [|http://www.ehow.com/about_4812490_pros-cons-fossil-fuels.html#ixzz1ZRtC8gkO] > Cons include both the limited supplies of fossil fuels and the fact that no fossil fuel can be recycled. Only one-third of coal's fuel energy potential is currently used when coal is burned for power, according to the Department of Energy. This waste cannot be regained. However, there is a choice to explore more efficient use of coal so we're completely tapping its capabilities. Read more: [|Pros & Cons of Fossil Fuels | eHow.com] [|http://www.ehow.com/about_4812490_pros-cons-fossil-fuels.html#ixzz1ZRsml2cb]
 * __Fossil Fuels:__**
 * __Pros and Cons:__**
 * __Pros:__**
 * The pros of acquiring fossils fuels begin with the benefit of increased income for a country's economy. The sale of fossil fuels involves much more than simply providing a finished fuel product to a buyer. A long list of businesses exists along the supply chain that ranges from the oil well workers to the captains aboard the super tankers. Another pro is that it is really is easy to transport fossil fuels in liquid, gas or solid form.
 * The cheap cost of fossil fuels tops the list of pros regarding cost. In addition, technology currently exists to use fossil fuels, which makes their use immediate.
 * __Cons:__**
 * The disadvantages of using fossils fuel lies in the direct impact to the environment. This begins with the irreparable damage to habitats and marine environments caused during drilling or coal extraction. Fossil fuels emit hazardous gases that can cause any number of breathing ailments in living beings. Fossil fuel consumption generates greenhouse gases, causes acid rain and, on occasion, results in direct pollution through oil spills.
 * Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources, which means the supply is very limited. There really aren't any pros for using fuels that cannot be replaced. However, large deposits of oil, natural gas and coal are available. The biggest pro revolves around our measured use of these limited resources and our existing ability, without our infrastructure, to actually use fossil fuels.

More than 98 percent of Pennsylvania’s electricity is generated from fossil fuel and nuclear resources. Fossil fuels are easily accessed in Pennsylvania as well. Hydropower is Pennsylvania’s most readily used form of renewable energy, representing one percent of the state’s overall electricity generation, although wind and solar continue to grow in popularity. []
 * __The State of Pennsylvania:__**

[] [] I found out how rare it is to see wind turbine usage on mountains and windy plains on a trip down to Pittsburgh I had taken. Also talking to my seminar teacher he said he read an article that wind turbine as a primary power source is almost incompetent in a sense because of the low output of energy generated. Wind turbines take up large swathes of land and ruin the land as well for future use, while also construction costs are large. Basically wind turbines would seem redundant to use as a primary generating source but in small quantities, it would seem great for a backup resource.
 * __Wind Turbines:__**
 * __Pros And Cons:__**
 * __Pros:__**
 * Wind energy is clean. Electricity generated by wind turbines won’t dirty the air we breathe or emit pollutants like other energy sources—that means less smog, less acid rain and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Power plants are the largest stationary source of air pollution in the United States, emitting millions of tons of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide each year. These pollutants are believed to be the cause of global warming. Running a single 1-MW wind turbine can displace 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide in one year (equivalent to planting one square mile of forest).
 * Wind energy is cost competitive to other fuel sources (like natural gas) and it is the least expensive of all renewable energy sources. Because the fuel (wind) is free, wind energy can provide a stable long-term price for power production. Today's wind farms can generate electricity for less than 5 cents per kilowatt hour in many parts of the U.S., a price that is competitive with new coal- or gas-fired power plants. The cost is expected to continue to decline as the technology improves and the market for this source develops.
 * Wind energy is growing fast. It has been the world’s fastest growing renewable energy source for more than a decade with an average annual growth rate of over 20%. In 2008, the United States had a record breaking year by increasing generating capacity by 50%. With more than 25,170 MW of wind energy capacity installed in the U.S. today, wind power can generate enough to power more than 7 million average U.S.households (a fraction of what it could be providing). According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind energy in the United States could provide as much as 10,777 billion kWh annually—more than twice the electricity generated in the U.S.today.
 * Wind energy is renewable. As one of Mother Nature’s gifts, the wind is available and plentiful and won’t deplete our world’s natural resources.
 * Wind energy benefits society. Because it is a clean energy source, wind energy reduces costs associated with air pollution—both healthcare and environmental costs. And, its low operating costs and short construction lead times mean it can provide low cost, clean energy quicker and more conveniently than traditional power plants.
 * Wind energy is local. Wind projects keep more energy dollars in the communities where projects are located and provide a steady income through lease payments to the landowners. Wind projects also pay significant property taxes and state taxes each year and create local jobs. Unlike oil, the wind is not affected by international conflicts or embargoes, making it immune to supply problems or price shocks.
 * Wind energy is reliable and efficient. Unlike other power plants, wind energy systems require minimal maintenance and have low operating expenses. Wind turbines are very reliable and are available to generate electricity 99% of the time (on par with other generating sources).
 * __Cons:__**
 * **Low Persistent Noise** - There have been a large number of complaints [|about]the persistent level of low level nosie from the whirring of the blades of a wind turbine.There have been cases reported [|about]animals on farms getting affected by wind turbine noise.
 * **Loss of Scenery -** The sight of giant 200 metres tall towers has drawn objections from neighbours [|about]wind power leading to loss of scenery and beauty.The Cape Wind Energy project off the shore of Massachusetts has been delayed by over 10 years as it has drawn serious objections from the owners of coastal homes [|about]loss in their property values
 * **Land usage** - Wind Turbines can sometimes use large amounts of land if not properly planned and built.The construction of roads to access the wind farms etc also takes up some land.
 * **Intermittent Nature** - Wind Power is intermittent in nature as it generates energy only when the wind blows.This problem can be solved with energy storage however this leads to additional costs.
 * __My Own Personal Experience on the weekend of October 1st:__**

Houses on average take about 35-40 Kilowatts per day. The cost per Kilowatt is around 8 cents on average. So take 35-40, (I'm taking the mean of 37.5), times 8 cents per kilowatt, which is $3.00 a day. So take $3.00, times the1,152 houses being the town of Marysville, to find an answer of $3,456 dollars a day on average to the town of Marysville.
 * __Costs of the Different Energies to Power the State of Pennsylvania:__**

__**We need to change the variables of the kWh to find the cost of certain energies costs, compare, and weigh the pros and cons of each individual energy source.**__- I gathered most of my estimations through a PPL chart. (link)- []
 * __Marysville:__**

Hydropower is the most efficient way to generate electricity. Modern hydro turbines can convert as much as 90% of the available energy into electricity. The best fossil fuel plants are only about 50% efficient. In the U.S., hydropower is produced for an average of 0.85 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh). []
 * __Hydroelectricity costs per kWh:__**

So on average its about .85 cents for kWh. originally which translates to consumers as on average 10 cents because companies make profit. Renewable energy sources I've found on average tend to be 2 - 3 cents more than fossil fuels. Essentially its a low price but consumption wise the same. Some costs may be less or more based upon who provides your electricity.
 * Basically 10 cents per kWh x 37.5 kWh per day x 1,152 houses in Marysville to find the average per day, which is $4,320. To find out the monthly cost of hydroelectricity, you would take $4,320 x 30, which is $129,600 monthly for the town of Marysville.
 * For an individual house hold cost daily you would take $4,320 / 1152 homes and get an end result of $3.75 daily.
 * For an individual house hold cost monthly you would take $3.75 x 30 days to get an end result of $112.5 per month.

Fossil fuels are cheap/ inexpensive almost, costing about .50 cents for a kWh. Essentially fossil fuels are getting the job done and they are sufficient in today's world, although availability in the future might be taxing. This also should translate to about 8 cents per kWh due to profit seeking companies. Fossil fuels are a little les expensive. The Bear Creek Wind Power Project, Pennsylvania's newest wind farm, is a 24 MW wind energy facility located in the Pocono Mountain region of Pennsylvania less than 10 miles southeast of Wilkes-Barre in the town of Bear Creek. Visible while heading south on the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension, the Project is expected to produce over 75 million kilowatt-hours of wind energy annually. Acquired from early stage project developer Global Winds Harvest, leading wind energy marketer and developer [|Community Energy, Inc.] has partnered with [|Babcock and Brown] and [|Central Hudson Energy Group, Inc.] to develop, construct, and operate the Bear Creek Wind Farm. The project was made possible by commitments from PPL Energy Plus to purchase the output of the project and [|leading wind energy customers]such as the University of Pennsylvania and PEPCO Energy Services. 100% of wind turbine energy costs about 10 cents per kWh. []
 * __Fossil Fuel costs per kWh:__**
 * Basically 8 cents per kWh x 37.5 kWh per day x 1152 houses in Marysville to find the average per day, which is $3,450. To find out the monthly cost of fossil fuels you would take $3,450 x 30, which is $103,500 monthly for the town of Marysville.
 * For an individual house hold cost daily you would take $3,450 / 1,152 homes to get an end result of $3.00 daily.
 * For an individual house hold cost monthly you would take $3.00 x 30 to get an end result of $90 per month.
 * __Wind Turbine costs per kWh:__**
 * Basically 10 cents per kWh x 37.5 per day x 1,152 houses in Marysvilleto find the average per day, which is $4,320. to find out the monthly cost of Wind turbine energy, you would take $4,320 x 30, which is $129,600 monthly for the town of Marysville.
 * For an individual house hold cost daily you would take $4,320 / 1152 homes and get an end result of $3.75 daily.
 * For an individual house hold cost monthly you would take $3.75 x 30 days to get an end result of $112.5 per month.

Basically all renewable resources in general are going to be more expensive than fossil fuels, based upon the requirements to get them functional, up keep charges, and little energy produced compared to efficient fossil fuels. Fossil fuels of course have more cons then pros which is a bit of a problem in today's world, due to the conspiracy of global warming, so I'm probably not going to use fossil fuels as my primary source in Pennsylvania. Next Wind energy is to taxing and produces very little energy in comparison to the hydroelectricity and fossil fuels, so I'm probably not going to use that as my primary source of energy in Marysville, despite it being eco-friendly. Obviously I'm going with hydroelectricty based upon the convinience of the local susquehanna river, the efficiency, and low cost of hydroelectricity. Sure it costs 2 cents more, but its more environment friendly and is more efficient, whereas fossil fuels are bad for the environment, and wind fuel is that efficient.
 * __The Summary:__**


 * __Comparison of Marysville's Electrical Needs to City:__**

There are 348,656 //buildings// in //new york-// It costs about and 16.31 cents per kWh used in New York. Assuming all buildings cost that, just like in Marysville, with the estimate 37.5 kWh per day used, is about $2.1 million dollars daily to power the city. So Marysville would be a very low costing town to power and therefore wouldn't need that much energy in comparison to bigger cities, despite the choice of environement-friendly energy sources. Environment-friendly sources in small towns would not have a big effect on money basically.