Washington’s Energy Diet

Presentation forEnergy Forum, 34th District DemocratsJuly 15, 2006

Washington State’s Energy DietWashington State’s Energy Diet

• What do we use?

• What do we do with it?

• Recent trends

• An overlooked solution

Energy: What we useEnergy: What we use

• Oil: about half of the state’s energy

• 150 million barrels per year

• At today’s prices: $1,700 per person

Nukes2%

Biomass6%

Coal6%

Natural Gas17%

Hydro17%

Oil52%

Energy: How we use itEnergy: How we use it

• Transportation: virtually all is oil.

• Half of transportation energy goes to cars.

• Cars use more energy than homes.

Business14%

Homes19%

Industry28%

Transport39%

Gasoline: Long term growthGasoline: Long term growth

• Consumption quadrupled since 1950

• But…basically flat for 8 years!

• Adding in diesel, highway fuels still rising

0

1

2

3

4

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Bill

ions

of g

allo

ns o

f fue

l

Gasoline

Gasoline + Diesel

Gasoline: per capitaGasoline: per capita

• Stuck at high plateau

• 50% more per person than BC

• Signs that prices are having an impact?

0

4

8

12

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Ga

llon

s o

f g

aso

line

pe

r p

ers

on

pe

r w

ee

k

Washington

British Columbia

High prices dampening demand?High prices dampening demand?

• Since 1996, per-person consumption has declined by ~10 percent.

Washington

British Columbia

6

7

8

9

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Gal

lons

of

gaso

line

per

pers

on p

er w

eek

Sprawl: What is it?Sprawl: What is it?• Low

density housing

• Homes separated from stores and services

• Driving a necessity

Pedestrian-friendly neighborhood:

Stores and services are within an easy walk of homes

Sprawling neighborhood:

Few destinations within walking distance

Compact neighborhoods reduce Compact neighborhoods reduce drivingdriving

• Sprawling, low-density areas induce extra driving

• Neighborhood design as important as car design.

-

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1.6 - 3.1 3.1 - 6.3 6.3 - 16 16 - 39 > 39

residential density (people per acre)

Da

ily tr

ave

l in

ca

rs

BC: Leader in “Smart Growth”BC: Leader in “Smart Growth”

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Boise (Ada County)

Spokane

Eugene/Springfield

Seattle

Portland

Victoria*

Vancouver*

Metropolitan-area residents living in compact neighborhoods (percent)

1990

Increase, 1990-2000

More information and updates at…

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