Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 10:14 AM Jun 2014

US energy in five maps (infographics)

Great resource!

US energy in five maps (infographics)

America has a lot of energy, but it's not distributed evenly. Various types of energy are concentrated in different parts of the country. To better visualize it, Saxum, an Oklahoma City-based advertising and communications firm, has developed a portrait of the country's vast oil, gas, coal, solar, wind, and other resources:

- David J. Unger, Correspondent

Begin here:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/0530/US-energy-in-five-maps-infographics/1.-Oil-gas-and-coal

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
US energy in five maps (infographics) (Original Post) theHandpuppet Jun 2014 OP
I would take issue with some of these maps. NYC_SKP Jun 2014 #1
I don't think the site I posted did the best job correlating their maps with the text theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #2
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. I would take issue with some of these maps.
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 11:08 AM
Jun 2014

Most troubling are the wind and solar maps.

They've neglected to indicate the significant offshore wind resources, and the solar map suggests that there's nothing going on in much of the country when, in fact, solar is viable everywhere in the country.

Better maps are available at the Department of Energy Energy Information Administration website:

http://www.eia.gov/



theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
2. I don't think the site I posted did the best job correlating their maps with the text
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:29 PM
Jun 2014

For instance, without pairing their map to the following text on wind and solar, you don't get the full picture of available resources:

(excerpt)
Photovoltaic capacity grew by 76 percent between 2011 and 2012, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The areas shown in yellow above represent the top 20 percent of areas in terms of average annual solar energy potential.

Wind is second only to hydroelectric in renewable energy. It generates about 28 percent of renewable power and, with the extension of a production credit earlier this year, is expected to grow 7 percent in 2013. The areas colored orange are where wind speeds fall into the top two most productive categories, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In addition to the inland regions shown above, areas off the nation's coasts also hold great potential for capturing wind power.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»US energy in five maps (i...