5 Emerging energy resources for communities of all sizes

Cities, towns and villages play a key role in shaping energy policies that impact their communities. To make informed decisions, local leaders must understand the benefits, challenges and applications of various energy resources. Making strategic energy investments can revitalize small town economies, attract new businesses, and build sustainable communities for future generations.

The National League of Cities has produced five fact sheets on technologically advanced energy sources, such as geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen, batteries and energy storage, and carbon capture and storage, to help local urban leaders make informed decisions to meet the SDGs and development.

Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy uses heat from the Earth’s interior to generate electricity and provide heating and cooling. Local officials should realize that geothermal resources vary by location, and some regions have greater development potential than others. For example, many small towns in the western United States lie on geothermal hotspots. Understanding geological conditions and feasibility studies are crucial to assessing viability.

Benefits

• Renewable and environmentally friendly: Geothermal energy emits minimal greenhouse gases and requires less land compared to other renewable energy sources.
• Base load power: Geothermal power plants can operate continuously, providing a stable source of electricity.

Considerations

• High initial costs: Exploration and drilling costs can be significant and require significant investment.
• Geological hazards: Uncertainties such as resource depletion or seismic activity may impact the project.
• Regulatory obstacles: Permitting and zoning regulations may pose challenges to the development of geothermal energy.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear power produces electricity through controlled nuclear reactions. Despite some controversy regarding its safety, it remains a significant low-carbon energy source in the US

Benefits

• Low carbon emissions: Nuclear power plants produce minimal greenhouse gases, helping to meet sustainability efforts.
• Reliability: Nuclear power plants provide stable electricity, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Energy independence: Nuclear energy reduces dependence on imported fuels, increasing local and national energy security.

Considerations

• Safety considerations: Nuclear accidents can have catastrophic consequences, requiring stringent safety measures.
• Waste management: Proper disposal of radioactive waste remains a challenge requiring long-term solutions.
• High initial costs: The construction and decommissioning of nuclear facilities involve significant capital expenditure.

Hydrogen energy

Hydrogen energy involves the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel for transportation, heating and electricity generation. Local officials should understand production methods and uses. Agricultural communities could benefit from hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for agricultural equipment and operations.

Benefits

• Clean fuel: The use of hydrogen in fuel cells produces only water vapor, which reduces air pollution.
• Versatility: Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources, providing flexibility.
• Energy storage: Hydrogen fuel can store excess energy produced by high renewable energy production, helping to stabilize the grid.

Considerations

• Latest hydrogen production relies on fossil fuels, emitting carbon dioxide.
• Establishment hydrogen infrastructure requires significant investment.
• Hydrogen technologies are still evolving and cost and efficiency improvements need to be made.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

CCS technologies capture and store carbon dioxide emissions, helping in climate change mitigation efforts by reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations₂one of the main greenhouse gases.

Benefits

• Emission reduction: CCS significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. If implemented on a large enough scale, it will bring global benefits.
• Industrial decarbonization: CCS enables carbon-intensive industries such as concrete and steel production to decarbonize operations more quickly, rather than completely redesigning production methods.

Considerations

• Enhanced oil recovery: captured CO₂ it is often used to increase oil production by pumping it into geological reservoirs to displace and release difficult-to-recover oil.
• Technological maturity: CCS is a completely new phenomenon and requires further development and cost reduction.
• Storage Capacity: Finding appropriate storage spaces and ensuring they don’t leak comes with safety and environmental concerns.

Batteries and energy storage

Batteries and energy storage systems play a key role in integrating renewable energy sources and increasing grid resilience. Remote small towns prone to power outages can especially benefit from implementing battery storage to provide backup power for essential services during severe weather.

Benefits

• Network stability: Energy storage balances supply and demand, improving reliability.
• Renewable energy interconnection: Battery storage enables greater integration of renewable energy sources into the grid.
• Emergency power supply: Energy storage provides a backup in the event of outages, increasing resiliency.

Considerations

• Cost and scalability: Large-scale implementation may pose economic challenges.
• Environmental impact: Battery production, as well as lithium mining and disposal, raise concerns.

In summary, local elected officials from communities of all sizes need a comprehensive understanding of emerging energy resources to formulate effective energy policy within their local jurisdiction. By considering the benefits and considerations associated with each resource, decision makers can make informed decisions that promote sustainability and meet the unique needs of their communities.