Energy Analysis
Where does the energy that powers your home originate? Let us find out.
First, go to the EPA Power Profiler (Links to an external site.) website.
Complete the Power Profiler information. You will be provided with a report showing a breakdown of where your household energy comes from and how this compares to national averages. It will look like this:
In your initial post, address the following:
Report the region you are in and the percentages of non-hydroelectric renewable, hydroelectric, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal derived energy that are in use.
How do these values compare to the national averages?
Discuss the differences and similarities between your regional and national values. Factors to consider: Is your area windy? Sunny? On a coast? Does your state have legislation or incentives to increase energy independence? The example above is from the Pittsburgh region, which is a major coal-producer. This is reflected in the fact that this area uses far more coal for energy than the national average.
In your comments, discuss how your area compares in terms of energy usage and share your observations about why certain areas get energy from the sources that they do. Were you surprised by any of the findings?
Non-U.S. residents: You may either choose a region of the U.S. to analyze for your post or discuss the energy sources for your home region based on your own research.
respond to two or more of your classmates in any of the following ways:
Build on something your classmate said
Explain why and how you see things differently
Ask a probing or clarifying question
Share an insight from having read your classmate’s posting
Offer and support an opinion
Expand on your classmate’s posting.
Reaction #1:
I live in south central Wisconsin, which is part of the MROE sub region. Wisconsin is heavily reliant on coal energy at 55% of the total provided energy to this sub region. Although this is down from the high in 1997 of 82% of all the energy produced in Wisconsin was coal generated. MROE’s 55% amount of reliance on coal is higher than the national average of 23.3%, although this is trending in the right direction and the largest coal fired powerplant is planned to be closed by 2025. This is the large coal energy powerplant just 10 miles to the north of my home. This powerplant is the second largest coal fired powerplant in the state and the largest plant as part of the MROE sub region. With the closing of this plant, MROE will eliminate an 97 million tons of carbon dioxide in the sub region and state. This is a huge step in the right direction for the goal of the utilities company in the region to become less reliant on fossil fuels for energy production. The second largest producer in my sub region is natural gas which is 30% of the total energy production, which is below the national average of 38.4%. Again, this is a step in the right direction, where WI’s largest energy company, Alliant, is making commitments to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Wisconsin is also one of the leaders in hydroelectric dams and there are 120 regulated hydro electric dams in the state. Hydroelectric power accounts for over half of the renewable energy production. There are pros and cons to the damming of the waterways in our sub region and state. The pros are that we generate energy with a renewable resource, while the cons are that damming waterways does not allow for the natural flow of water in the way it was designed. Damming has eliminated some natural farmland and woods that once existed where lakes have formed from the damming. Biofuels are an additional contributor to the movement in the direction of renewable energy, currently WI produces twice as much ethanol as it uses and can be sold to regions outside of WI. Biofuels and hydroelectric power are two ways that WI is and the MROE sub region are looking to the future with renewable energy.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/dams/hydroElectric.html
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/wisconsin/stories-in-wisconsin/renewable-energy-transition/
https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/columbia-power-plant-to-close-by-2025-ending-coal-fired-power-in-portage/article_14aa87c2-7984-5ff6-9815-a7fd1eb7d65c.html
https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WI
reaction #2
Hi Class,
I live in South Dakota and we are in the MROW (MRO West) region. Our percentages are as follows:
Non-hydroelectric renewable – 26.6%, compared to the national average of 10.4%
Hydroelectric – 6.9%, compared to the national average of 6.8%
Nuclear – 11.2%, compared to the national average of 19.6%
Oil – 0.1%, compared to the national average of 0.6%
Gas – 11.2%, compared to the national average of 38.4%
Coal – 43.9%, compared to the national average of 23.3%
South Dakota’s non-hydroelectric renewable energy comes mostly from wind, since South Dakota and the bordering states are all very windy with lots of prairie allowing it to provide an abundance amount of wind energy resources. About one-third of South Dakota’s electric generation is provided by wind power (EIA, 2021).
The Missouri River cuts through the eastern side of South Dakota and four of the six major hydroelectric dams along the Missouri River are located in South Dakota. This provides a significant amount of hydroelectric resources to our state (EIA, 2021).
Coal contributes mostly to the state’s electric generation. South Dakota gets most of their coal from its bordering state, Wyoming (EIA, 2021).
(see attachment)
References:
U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – independent statistics and analysis. South Dakota – State Energy Profile Analysis – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2021, May 20). Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=SD
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