Solutions! « Eco-Justice Collaborative

Solutions!

One of the challenges in moving away from coal is that most of us are unaware of how much we use, or what the impacts of our use of coal really are. But the answers to our energy, climate and economic crisis become evident once we begin to understand that conservation, efficiency and the introduction of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar into our energy portfolios will reduce harmful CO2 emissions, reduce our dependence on polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil, create jobs and stimulate our economy.

Energy Efficiency

The electric power industry is one of the most resource intensive industries in the world. In the United States it is responsible for approximately 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). If we were able to produce and use our electricity more efficiently, we would substantially cut our emissions and grow our economy. According to a report by the Rocky Mountain Institute:

The electric productivity gap between the top performing states and the rest of the nation is immense. If the rest of the country achieved the normalized electric productivity of the top performing states, in terms of dollars of Gross Domestic Product generated per unit of electricity used, the country would save a approximately 1.2 million gigwatt-hours annually.

1.2 million gigawatt-hours is the equivalent of 30% of our annual electricity use, or 62% of our nation’s coal-fired electrical power.

If by 2020 the United States can, on average, achieve the electric efficiency of the top performing states today, we can anticipate a 34% reduction in projected electricity demand, while maintaining 2.5 percent annual economic growth.

The report goes on to say that the top ten performing states can continue to improve their efficiency, and that, as time goes on, further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be realized as all states continue to become more efficient in production.

Closing the electric productivity gap through energy efficiency is the greatest opportunity to immediately reduce our nation’s use of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions, while moving the U.S. forward as a leader in the new clean energy economy. Click here or on the map above to view each interactive map that shows each state’s efficiency and productivity gap.