Introduction: Defining Sustainable Electricity

Abstract

There are many definitions of sustainability and company examples of how to meet social, environmental, and economic goals simultaneously. However, how can such approaches apply to the electric power industry, which is subject to heavy regulation and unable to forgo safe, affordable, and constantly reliable power? In Sustainable Electricity companies discuss some of the most hotly debated challenges of today: renewable energy, water use, species impacts, employee engagement, stakeholder communication, resiliency and climate change, distributed energy, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, consumer preferences, and business vitality. Unless we are satisfied with vague business commitments, the current definitions of sustainability to protect future generations are too nebulous to set goals, measure progress, and inform balanced outcomes in the electric power industry. This book provides concrete examples of what “sustainable electricity” will encompass in the next decade.