Welcome back to the third and final post from Inside Energy’s introductory series on basic energy facts on the boom states of Colorado, North Dakota and Wyoming.
Last week, we looked at energy production and energy consumption – today, we’ll look at them side-by-side to see how they compare:
- Colorado, a state where people consume less energy per person than the national average, produces about twice as much energy as it consumes.
- North Dakota, which ranks near the top in energy consumption per person, produces about three times as much energy as it consumes.
- Wyoming, the highest per-person energy consumer in the U.S., produces 19 times as much energy as it consumes.
These states don’t exist in a vacuum; their consumption and production values are intertwined with national and global markets. In addition, the energy economy is more nuanced than simply what comes in and what goes out. For example, although Colorado is a top energy producer, it relies on electricity imports to meet its consumption needs. This is because while some of its coal and natural gas is used for in-state energy production, much is shipped out of state.
At Inside Energy, we’re working hard to wrap our heads around this industry and help you understand how these big-picture energy issues affect you. We’ll be using data and multi-media reporting to explore the intersection of energy and your life.
We’re just getting started, so stay tuned.
