Past Progress and Present Trends in the Art of Power Generation [includes discussion]

The electric-utility power generating capacity of the United States, since the founding of the industry some 70 years ago, has followed the astonishing pattern of doubling every 10 to 12 years. On this basis a bold prophet at the turn of the century would have predicted for today an installed capacity of about 75,000,000 kw-but who would have been so bold? Actually the figure is closer to 80,000,000, or one-half kw for every citizen. Can we have less courage today and say that in 1964 the power plants of this country will not have doubled again-to 160,000,000? In 50 years, the electric horsepower per industrial worker has increased sixteenfold, from one-half to eight. The factors that have caused this rise in electrical capacity are still at work, only more so. The country is growing, industries are expanding, homes and farms are using more electricity, everyone is becoming more power conscious: this is truly the age of electric power. The abbreviated record outlined in this article speaks for itself; it points to a future for power generation that will make the past appear as a prologue.