AUSTIN, Texas, March 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a policy statement released today, Texas Combined Heat & Power Initiative (TXCHPI) recognizes that CHP technology fueled with clean-burning Texas natural gas is the most economic, efficient technology for generating electricity with fossil fuels and that adding more CHP is the path to a sustainable, reliable energy resource that improves air quality and dramatically reduces water used for power production.
"TXCHPI recognizes that consumers, power providers and communities across Texas share the need to conserve water, improve air quality and maintain a secure source of energy," stated Paul Cauduro, TXCHPI executive director. "The policy statement shows that CHP technologies meet these goals while supporting economic growth in Texas."
Leading universities and hospitals in Texas have demonstrated that combined heat & power technologies provide increased efficiency and lead to economic and environmental benefits. CHP has increased efficiency at Texas universities to between 70 – 89% while providing a secure source of heating and cooling to students, data centers and valuable research center activities. CHP technology in use in Texas has shown that:
- CHP creates jobs
- Improves energy efficiency substantially
- Provides reliability and energy security
- Reduces water usage
- Helps meet clean air standards
In a white paper from the DOE Gulf Coast Clean Energy Application Center and posted by TXCHPI it was determined that increasing CHP from 20 to 35% of total electricity consumption in Texas would:
- Increase natural gas consumption by 533 billion cubic feet per year -- worth an estimated $2.3 Billion to producers at current prices.
- Lower carbon dioxide emissions by 81 million tons per year – the equivalent of removing more than thirteen million cars off Texas' roads
- Lower sulfur dioxide emissions by about 384 thousand tons per year -- an amount equivalent to retiring twenty-one 500 MW coal plants.
- Lower nitrogen oxide emissions by about 137 thousand tons per year – an amount equivalent to retiring twenty-two 500 MW coal plants.
- Lower annual water consumption by about 25 billion gallons per year – an amount equivalent to the water used by ten 500 MW coal plants each year.
About the TXCHPI:
The Texas Combined Heat & Power Initiative (TXCHPI) is a non-profit association of business interests that supports clean, energy-efficient, CHP technology applications in industrial, commercial and institutional settings. TXCHPI champions CHP as the most effective, economical and environmentally sensible energy option for Texas.
The Texas Combined Heat & Power Initiative logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13897