Energy Consumption in the US:
Red State and Blue State Comparisons

by John Freeland of SustainableMiddleClass.com

 

Which States are truly conservative? The States won by Bush in 2004 consumed 51% more energy per capita in 2001 that the states won by Kerry.

The intention of this article, and of my website, is to be is non-partisan as possible and praise politicians of all persuasions who have the courage to put forth sustainable policies and criticize those who would take the country in the wrong direction, that is, a direction where we as a society fail to prepare for our children's and their children's future. Perhaps no organization does this kind of non-partisan constructive criticism than the Concord Coalition, and I wish people would pay more attention to them.

The United States is in an especially polarized political condition at this time and we have the "Red State-Blue State" phenomenon with what appear to be starkly differing perspectives about where, ideologically, the United States needs to be. This web site will explore several indicators of sustainable policies and societal health with respect to building and preserving a healthy, prosperous, sustainable middle class. As we are presented with choices of Republican "Red State" or Democratic "Blue State" policies, it may be enlightening to review the products of those policies - state data - as they relate to the three E's of sustainability: economic vitality, environmental quality, and social equity.

We begin with a look at energy consumption, which relates strongly to the concepts of economic vitality and environmental quality. Obviously, the more efficiently we as a society can use energy, the more energy will be available to our progeny, the less pollution we'll have from burning fuel, and the less capital we will have to send overseas to purchase fuel. Our energy future, air quality, and current account balance would all benefit from more efficient use of energy.

Energy Consumption Data Source: Energy Information Administration

The graph shows the per capita energy consumption for each of the fifty states as of year 2001. The data may raise more questions than answers, but the Red States are, on average, using substantially more (51% more) energy per capita than their Blue State counterparts.

It's easy to understand how Alaska would have the highest rate of consumption: people need to keep warm and travel great distances from one town to another. But why would the third-highest per capita energy consumption belong to Louisiana?

Nine of the ten states with the highest per capita energy consumption went to George Bush in the 2004 Election. Eight of the ten states with the lowest per capita energy consumption went to John Kerry.

Based on the data presented here, the message seems pretty clear: the "Blue States" are closer to having a sustainable energy lifestyle than are the "Red States." Honestly, all the states have a along way to go to achieve sustainability.


Energy Consumption Table (Energy Information Administration, US Department Of Energy, Data For 2001)

Rank, State, Per Capita Consumption (Million Btu)

Alaska 1164; Wyoming 890; Louisiana 784; North Dakota 640; Texas 564; Kentucky 462; Indiana 457; Oklahoma 444; Alabama 435; West Virginia 423; Arkansas 411; Mississippi 410; Montana 404; Iowa 392; Kansas 387; Tennessee 382; Maine 382; South Carolina 382; Idaho 379; New Mexico 371; Delaware 368; Nebraska 365; Minnesota 350; Ohio 350; Wisconsin 345; Georgia 343; Washington 339; South Dakota 327; Missouri 322; Virginia 322; Pennsylvania 319; Utah 318; North Carolina 316; Michigan 312; Illinois 309; Oregon 307; Nevada 301; New Jersey 294; Colorado 287; Vermont 267; Maryland 264; New Hampshire 256; Arizona 255; Florida 253; Connecticut 249; Massachusetts 242; Hawaii 230; California 227; New York 217; Rhode Island 215.

John Freeland is the Webmaster of SustainableMiddleClass.com. His site is about how to build a growing, sustainable middle class. It is about bringing more of those who are economically distressed or disenfranchized into a sustainable middle class, and maintaining a high quality of life for ourselves, our children, and their children.

 

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