Here is a revision of my comparisons of Heat per Dollar
Gene.
.......................................................
Burning corn for home heating is cheaper than burning natural gas
here in East-Central Illinois at current commodity prices.
The most heat per dollar is obtained by extracting heat from
underground water by a heat pump.
The least heat per dollar is obtained from electric resistance
heaters operating at base electrical rates without heating discounts.
Burning various fuels in a home furnace, pellet stove, or
automobile, delivers intermediate values of heat per dollar as listed
below. Note that corn *today* costs even less that the cost stated below.
MJ/$ Source Where When
.... ......... ........................... ....
471 Heat Pump Illinois Power, $0.0267/kWh now
315 Heat Pump Eastern Illini, $0.04/kWh now
265 Burning Corn Central Illinois, $2.00/bu now
156 Natural Gas Illinois Power, $0.68/therm now
135 Resistance Illinois Power, $0.0267/kWh now
131 Heating Oil C-U, No. 2, $1.13/gal now
127 Natural Gas New York Futures February
105 Natural Gas Des Moines, Iowa December
102 Kerosene Champaign-Urbana, $1.45/gal now
95 Gasoline C-U, $1.40/gal
88 Gasoline C-U, $1.50/gal now
71 Propane Champaign County, $1.40/gal now
44 Electricity Base Rate $0.0821/kWh, IP now
30 Electricity Base Rate $0.12/kWh, EIEC now
11 Electricity Base Rate $0.33/kWh, California December
