The Energy Information Administration recently offered an update to their State Energy Data System estimates for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The estimates include data on both total energy consumption and energy consumption per capita.
In 2015, Texas consumed more energy than any other state – accounting for about 13 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption. Texas has been the leading consumer of energy for as long as the data has been collected. California comes in second at 8 percent. Rounding out the top five are Louisiana, Florida, and Illinois.
Not surprisingly, those consuming the least amount of energy are the less densely populated states of Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, and New Hampshire. Historically, Vermont has used less energy annually than any other state since 1961.
Overall, the U.S. decreased energy consumption by about 1 percent last year, with Minnesota leading the way with a 7.6 percent year-over-year decrease. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia lowered their energy consumption, led by Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri accounting for nearly half of the total decline.
The report also looked at energy consumption per capita. Louisiana led the way there, followed by Wyoming, Alaska, North Dakota, and Iowa. These states’ industrial sectors account for more than 50 percent of all energy consumption, with production in the energy-intensive fossil fuel industry contributing to the rankings for Louisiana, Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
Iowa’s agricultural and manufacturing industries contribute to its relatively high consumption rate. Overall, the 2015 U.S. energy consumption per capita was about two percent lower than in 2014.
Comparing production totals to consumption levels per capita, here’s how the top five states aligned:
- Texas was first in production, but sixth in consumption per capita.
- Wyoming was second in production and consumption per capita.
- Pennsylvania was third in production, and 27th in consumption per capita.
- West Virginia was fourth in production and 10th in consumption per capita.
- Oklahoma was fifth in production and 11th in consumption per capita.
- Louisiana was first in consumption capita but 10th in production.
- Alaska was third in consumption per capita but 14th in production.
- North Dakota was fourth in consumption per capita and sixth in production.
- Iowa was fifth in consumption per capita but 24th in production.