Where is our energy used/come from?

Above is a chart that shows what the sources of energy and in what sector they are being used.  This is for the United States as a whole, so the percentages and sources will be different for Rhode Island.  I just felt it was a good idea to introduce you to what the whole country is up to before going into detail about Rhode Island.  Here in Rhode Island our industry tends to be smaller, this reduces the amount of electric power needed for the state and increases the percentage of the energy going to residential.  

            

Total Energy Usage

 The sources of energy that are being used in Rhode Island are also different.  In the northeast coal is very rarely used to produce electric power, and in Rhode Island the only large scale electric generating plants (learn more about energy in RI here) are natural gas powered.  There is only one plant in Rhode Island and it is located on Manchester St. in Providence.  It is owned by Dominion and the electricity is disturbed by National grid (you can learn more about this plant here).  In Rhode Island power generators are not allowed to own both the generation facilities and the distribution lines. This allows for a more stable pricing market.

         

There are many different topics to talk go into that have to do with our wide use of natural gas in the state.  One of them is the use of natural gas in the state (and other factors), it has very low greenhouse emissions compared to states in other parts of the country.  The state has taken steps toward lowering those emissions even farer by taking part in RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative). This is a cap and trade program that I will go farer into in it's own post since it is a huge player in Rhode Island's energy sector.  Another is the question of is does natural gas really release lease greenhouse gases when you look at its life cycle. This brings up the much heated debate of hydrofracking.  There are so many topics to go into I'm looking forward into really getting in to as much detail as I can and providing information to anyone who wants it.  I can't wait!