Electricity consumption in the United States is forecast to increase 30 percent between 2008 and
2035 according to baseline estimates from the U.S. Department of Energy.1 Despite growing interest
in renewable energy sources, most of this growth is expected to be met with increased production
from power plants using coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels. A substantial investment in new
plants has already begun with 450 new fossil fuel generators scheduled to be opened in the United
States between 2010 and 2013.2 Nationwide over $500 billion is expected to be spent on new fossil
fuel power plants between 2010 and 2030.