Northwest State Energy Flows Additional Analysis (2018)

These graphs show the energy resources in Trillion Btus produced by each of the four Northwest states in 2018. The figures represent energy resources produced in each state, even if they are not used within the state. For example, Montana exports around 78% of the coal it produces.

Energy can come from both nonrenewable resources and renewable resources. Nonrenewable energy resources include: petroleum, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Renewable energy resources include hydropower from flowing water; biomass from plants; wind energy; solar energy from the sun; and geothermal energy from heat below the earth’s surface.

For more information, see EIA Sources of Energy.

These graphs show the energy in Trillion Btus used by each end use sector–transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial–in the Northwest in 2018. This includes the electricity used by eachsector.

• The residential sector includes homes and apartments.
• The commercial sector includes offices, malls, stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, warehouses, restaurants, and places of worship and public assembly.
• The industrial sector includes facilities and equipment used for manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and construction.
• The transportation sector includes vehicles that transport people or goods, such as cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, trains, aircraft, boats, barges, and ships.

For more information, see EIA Use of Energy.

These graphs show the energy resources used to produce electricity in the four Northwest states in 2018. The energy resources shown are those produced in state as well, as those that are imported for electricity production.  

Electricity is a secondary energy source, meaning that it is produced by converting primary energy resources into electrical power. Electric generators convert energy resources into electricity. There are many different energy resources and technologies that can be used to produce electricity.

• Hydropower plants use flowing water to spin a turbine that is connected to a generator.
• Natural gas is used in steam turbines and gas turbines.
• Coal is mostly used in steam turbines, though some convert coal to gas for use in gas turbines.
• Wind turbines convert wind energy into electricity.
• Nuclear power plants use steam turbines to produce electricity from nuclear fission.
• Solar energy is used to produce electricity directly from sunlight in photovoltaic cells or through solar thermal power systems that use steam turbines.
• Geothermal, biomass, and petroleum account for small percentages of electricity production and are used in steam turbines or gas turbines.

Idaho is the only state in the Northwest that imports electricity.  

For more information, see EIA Electricity in the U.S.

These graphs show the energy resources used in the Northwest’s transportation sector in 2018. The transportation sector includes all vehicles used to transport people or goods: cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles trains, aircraft, boats, barges, and ships.

• Petroleum products include gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel. Biomass in the transportation sector refers to biofuels such as ethanol and biomass-based diesel or distillate fuels. Natural gas can be used as a vehicle fuel in the form of compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas. Most vehicles that use natural gas as vehicle fuel are in government and private vehicle fleets.

For more information, see EIA Use of Energy; Transportation; and Use of Natural Gas.

These graphs show the energy resources used in the Northwest’s residential sector in 2018. The residential sector includes all houses and apartments. While energy use differs among households, on average, around half of the energy consumed in the U.S. residential sector is used for space heating and air conditioning. The other half is used for water heating, lighting, refrigeration, devices, and appliances.

Electricity is used for air conditioning, space and water heating, lighting, refrigerators, devices, and appliances, such as clothes dryers.

Natural gas is used for space and water heating, clothes drying, and cooking.

Petroleum products include:

• Heating oil (distillate fuel) used for space and water heating, clothes drying
• Liquid petroleum gas/propane used for space and water heating, clothes drying, cooking
• Kerosene used for space heating

Geothermal energy is used for space cooling, and space and water heating through the use of geothermal heat pumps

Solar energy is used for space and water heating and electricity generation

Biomass in the residential sector refers to wood, which is used for space and water heating and cooking

For more information, see EIA Use of Energy; Use of Energy in Homes; and Electricity Use in Homes.

These graphs show the energy resources used in the Northwest’s commercial sector in 2018. The commercial sector includes offices, malls, stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, warehouses, restaurants, and places of worship and public assembly. While energy use differs among building types, on average around 25% of the energy consumed in the U.S. commercial sector is used for space heating.

As the graphs show, electricity and natural gas are the two main energy resources used in commercial buildings. Electricity in commercial buildings is primarily used for lighting, refrigeration, ventilation, cooling, computers, and other appliances. A small portion of electricity is used for other office equipment, cooking, and space and water heating.

Natural gas is used for space and water heating, refrigeration and cooling equipment, cooking, clothes drying, and to provide outdoor lighting. Some commercial buildings have combined heat and power systems that use natural gas to heat and cool the building and generate electricity for the building.

Petroleum products include:

• Heating oil (distillate fuel) used for space and water heating, clothes drying
• Liquid petroleum gas / propane used for space and water heating, clothes drying, cooking
• Kerosene used for space heating

Geothermal energy is used for space cooling, and space and water heating through the use of geothermal heat pumps

Solar energy is used for space and water heating and electricity generation

As with the residential sector, biomass in the commercial sector refers to wood, which is used for space water heating and cooking. Biomass in the commercial sector can also refer to landfill gas produced at municipal sewage treatment facilities and waste landfills.

For more information, see: EIA Use of Energy; Commercial Buildings; Use of Natural Gas; and Biomass.

These graphs show energy resources used in the Northwest’s industrial sector in 2018. The industrial sector includes facilities and equipment used for manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and construction. Within industry, manufacturing accounts for the largest share of energy consumption.

As shown in the graphs, the main energy resources used in the industrial sector are electricity, petroleum, natural gas, and biomass.

Industrial facilities use electricity for operating motors, machinery, and other equipment; lighting; and facility heating, cooling, and ventilation.

Industrial facilities use the non-electricity resources for heat in industrial processes and in facilities; boiler fuel used to generate steam and heat water for process heating and electricity; and as raw materials to make plastics and chemicals.

Biomass in the industrial sector largely refers to pulping liquids (called black liquor) and other residues from papermaking, as well as residues from agriculture, forestry, and lumber milling. Industrial facilities may use biomass, such as black liquor, as well as natural gas or coal, in combined heat and power plants to generate process heat and electricity for their own use.

For more information, see EIA Use of Energy and Industry.