Here in Madison, we pay 10-11 cents per KWH. This U.S. map was created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.
They also have an interesting "motion" chart that shows energy use in each state from 1960 - 2009 on the x-axis vs. renewable energy consumption on the y-axis.
Via the MOCUS map tumblr.
When all factors, surcharges, base rate, etc are added in, we actually pay over .40 per kwh here on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is insane. With all of the potential for geothermal, wind & solar alternatives, our power is still produced primarily by imported oil. A proposed expansion of our geothermal capability is being opposed by some native Hawaiians who say it will offend the goddess Pele and be sacrilegious.
ReplyDeleteThey developed a pilot Ocean Thermal project under Carter, but Reagan vetoed it. Now would be a good time to redevelop one of those.
DeleteThank you, Stan. You find such interesting things, which is why I love your blog. I'm glad to say that my state, California, is almost at the top in renewable energy, and near the bottom in per capita usage. Our rates may be on the high end, but that might help conservation.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia also currently imports more power than any other state, but it's good that they've made serious efforts to change by setting serious renewable energy mandates, 1/3 by 2020.
DeleteI live in that little yellow square in California. That's Sacramento's public electric utility, SMUD. The res is all private like PG&E and So Cal Edison. So much for private industry being better than government management.
ReplyDeletefyi, the motion chart can show a lot more, just click on the axis labels
ReplyDeleteThe white zone in the center of WA is home to many, many server farms for companies based in Seattle area.
ReplyDeleteA friend with knowledge on the issue tells me that Grant County PUD owns both Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams, combined generating capacity of 2000 megawatts. Both dams are fully paid for and they historically have not needed that kind of juice in the county, so they sell it elsewhere. Explains why that is the only white area on the map... Chelan County PUD owns Rocky Reach and Rock Island Dams on the Columbia as well. They make up the other white areas on the map You could not duplicate what those PUD's did today. Too many regulations.