leaking pen wrote:
I'm conflicted. Im usually all in on an attack on california . . .
I had a low opinion of Gov. Schwarzenegger when he was elected, and I
am a democrat, but if I lived in California I would be pleased to
vote for him now. He has done a spectacular job promoting sound
policies on the environment and energy. He is probably the best
governor in the nation on these issues.
Since the 1950s California has played a leading role in reducing
pollution and energy consumption. California today has close to the
lowest per capita energy consumption of any state (it is #46), and it
has the most efficient and cleanest electric power generation. See:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA
In 2004, Alaska had the highest per capita consumption, 1,186 million
BTU, followed by Wyoming and Louisiana. The bottom three were,
predictably, 5 times lower than the top states:
California, 233 million BTU
New York, 221 million BTU
Rhode Island, 210 million BTU
See:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_sum/html/pdf/rank_use_per_cap.pdf
All other technologies being equal, per capita energy consumption is
usually inversely proportional to the overall wealth, education,
health and overall well being of the population. That is not say rich
people consume less energy than poor people. It means that the
population as a whole is usually better off when average consumption
is low. In countries like China, with horribly backward technology
such as coal-fired steam locomotives and kerosene lighting, per
capita energy consumption is low, but people waste what little energy
they have. In other words, dollar output per BTU of energy is low.
China used to be about 6 times worse than Japan and Europe, and 3
times worse than the U.S. but lately it has improved. I think they
did this mainly by buying Japanese technology. See:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/China/Profile.html
Energy Intensity (2004E) 9,080.4 Btu per $2000-PPP**
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Japan/Profile.html
Energy Intensity (2004E) 6,531.9 Btu per $2000-PPP**
EU states are the best:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Italy/Profile.html
Energy Intensity (2004E) 6,044 Btus per $2000, PPP**
As usual, the U.S. is down there with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela
and other energy producing nations. Mineral wealth impoverishes
states and nations. U.S. cars are laughably obsolete, and our
factories, office buildings and houses are a gift to the fossil fuel
industry. We like to burn money. See:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Usa/Profile.html
Energy Intensity (2003E) 9,568.5 Btu per $2000-PPP**
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Russia/Profile.html
Energy Intensity (2004E) 15,763 Btu per $2000-PPP**
Saudi Arabia is dead last, as usual:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Saudi_Arabia/Profile.html
Energy Intensity (2004E) 17,554 Btu/$ -- PPP (vs U.S. value of 9,336 Btu/$)**
- Jed
