100% clean and renewable wind, water, and sunlight (WWS) all-sector energy roadmaps for the 50 United States

This study presents roadmaps for each of the 50 United States to convert their all-purpose energy systems (for electricity, transportation, heating/cooling, and industry) to ones powered entirely by wind, water, and sunlight (WWS). The plans contemplate 80-85% of existing energy replaced by 2030 and 100% replaced by 2050. Conversion would reduce each state's end-use power demand by a mean of similar to 39.3% with similar to 82.4% of this due to the efficiency of electrification and the rest due to end-use energy efficiency improvements. Year 2050 end-use U.S. all-purpose load would be met with similar to 30.9% onshore wind, similar to 19.1% offshore wind, similar to 30.7% utility-scale photovoltaics (PV), similar to 7.2% rooftop PV, similar to 7.3% concentrated solar power (CSP) with storage, similar to 1.25% geothermal power, similar to 0.37% wave power, similar to 0.14% tidal power, and similar to 3.01% hydroelectric power. Based on a parallel grid integration study, an additional 4.4% and 7.2% of power beyond that needed for annual loads would be supplied by CSP with storage and solar thermal for heat, respectively, for peaking and grid stability. Over all 50 states, converting would provide similar to 3.9 million 40-year construction jobs and similar to 2.0 million 40-year operation jobs for the energy facilities alone, the sum of which would outweigh the similar to 3.9 million jobs lost in the conventional energy sector. Converting would also eliminate similar to 62000 (19000-115000) U.S. air pollution premature mortalities per year today and similar to 46000 (12000-104000) in 2050, avoiding similar to$600 ($85-$2400) bil. per year (2013 dollars) in 2050, equivalent to similar to 3.6 (0.5-14.3) percent of the 2014 U.S. gross domestic product. Converting would further eliminate similar to$3.3 (1.9-7.1) tril. per year in 2050 global warming costs to the world due to U.S. emissions. These plans will result in each person in the U.S. in 2050 saving similar to$260 (190-320) per year in energy costs ($2013 dollars) and U.S. health and global climate costs per person decreasing by similar to$1500 (210-6000) per year and similar to$8300 (4700-17600) per year, respectively. The new footprint over land required will be similar to 0.42% of U.S. land. The spacing area between wind turbines, which can be used for multiple purposes, will be similar to 1.6% of U.S. land. Thus, 100% conversions are technically and economically feasible with little downside. These roadmaps may therefore reduce social and political barriers to implementing clean-energy policies.