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Energy Consumption: Red State and Blue State Comparisons

Per capita energy consumption for Red States and Blue States, as compared to the 2004 Presidential Election results. Which states are truly conservative?

The states won by Bush in 2004 consumed 51% more energy per capita in 2001 that the states won by Kerry.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION: RED STATE - BLUE STATE TRENDS

This web site explores several indicators of sustainable policies and societal health with respect to building and preserving a healthy, prosperous, sustainable middle class. The United States is in an especially polarized political condition at this time and we have the "Red State-Blue State" phenomenon with what appear to be starkly differing perspectives about where, ideologically, the United States needs to be.

As we are presented with choices of Republican "Red State" or Democratic "Blue State" policies, it may be worthwhile to review the products of those policies - state data - as they relate to the three E's of sustainability: economic vitality, environmental quality, and equal opportunity.

Here is a look at energy consumption, which relates strongly to the concepts of economic vitality and environmental quality. Obviously, the more efficiently we as a society can use energy, the more energy will be available to our progeny, the less pollution we'll have from burning fuel, and the less capital we will have to send overseas to purchase fuel. Our energy future, air quality, and current account balance would all benefit from more efficient use of energy.

Energy usage is not uniform across the United States. There are significant differences among the 50 states, as shown by the data below, reflecting different attitudes toward energy conservation. The reasons for this split are complex and likely involve both religious beliefs and the notion of a "blessed" nation entitled to a larger share of the world's resources, and other social factors.

Energy Consumption Data Source: Energy Information Administration

The graph shows the per capita energy consumption for each of the fifty states as of year 2001. The data may raise more questions than answers, but the Red States are, on average, using substantially more (51% more) energy, per capita, than their Blue State counterparts.

It's easy to understand how Alaska (see below) would have the highest rate of consumption: people need to keep warm and travel great distances from one town to another. But why would the third-highest per capita energy consumption belong to Louisiana? One factor explaining the differences may be greater access to public transportation, such as commuter trains, in the Northeast and Chicago metropolitan areas.

All ten of the states with the highest per capita energy consumption went to George Bush in the 2004 Election. Eight of the ten states with the lowest per capita energy consumption went to John Kerry (see ranked state list below).

Based on the data presented here, the message seems pretty clear: the "Blue States" are closer to having a sustainable energy lifestyle than are the "Red States." Honestly, all the states have a along way to go to achieve sustainability.

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ENERGY CONSUMPTION TABLE (Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy data for 2001)

RANKED STATE PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION (Million Btu)

Alaska 1164; Wyoming 890; Louisiana 784; North Dakota 640; Texas 564; Kentucky 462; Indiana 457; Oklahoma 444; Alabama 435; West Virginia 423; Arkansas 411; Mississippi 410; Montana 404; Iowa 392; Kansas 387; Tennessee 382; Maine 382; South Carolina 382; Idaho 379; New Mexico 371; Delaware 368; Nebraska 365; Minnesota 350; Ohio 350; Wisconsin 345; Georgia 343; Washington 339; South Dakota 327; Missouri 322; Virginia 322; Pennsylvania 319; Utah 318; North Carolina 316; Michigan 312; Illinois 309; Oregon 307; Nevada 301; New Jersey 294; Colorado 287; Vermont 267; Maryland 264; New Hampshire 256; Arizona 255; Florida 253; Connecticut 249; Massachusetts 242; Hawaii 230; California 227; New York 217; Rhode Island 215.

MORE RELATED INFORMATION:

State Comparisons of Vehicle Fuel Mileage

Surface Transportation Policy Project

Keywords: Keywords: state energy consumption, Red States, Blue States, per capita, energy use, energy effficiency