Washingtons Energy Diet Presentation for Energy Forum, 34 th District Democrats July 15, 2006.

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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