Energizing Alabama
Mark Green
Posted August 26, 2016
Energizing Alabama
The more you look at the 50 states individually, the more you realize how the United States really is an all-of-the-above energy nation. Alabama is another good illustration.
Click on the thumbnail to view a two-page energy infographic for the Yellowhammer State.
The state ranked 15th in oil production in 2015 and 16th in natural gas output in 2014. On the consumption side, natural gas provided 33.2 percent of the energy Alabamians used in 2014, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), followed by coal and nuclear power. Combined, fuels made from petroleum/natural gas supplied 58 percent of the energy Alabama used in 2014.
In terms of power generation, natural gas has been Alabama’s leading fuel for electricity since 2010 – with use growing nearly 200 percent from 2006 to 2015. According to EIA, Alabama’s two nuclear power plants produce one-fourth of the state’s electricity. Coal, hydro and other renewables also factor into the power generation mix.
The United States is the world’s leading producer of oil and natural gas. It has made the U.S. more energy secure, added jobs, lifted the economy and lowered energy costs for American households. The increased use of natural gas – illustrated in Alabama – is the chief reason the U.S. leads the world in reducing energy-related carbon emissions. All are byproducts of the U.S. energy revolution.
Looking ahead, pro-development policies are needed to keep that revolution going. Page 2 of the infographic includes a chart showing the benefits of a pro-energy policy path and the potential negative impacts of policies characterized by regulatory constraints.
Energy is essential for virtually every aspect of our daily lives. It powers national, state and local economies, gets us to work and goes into products we rely on for health and comfort. Safe, responsible energy development here at home is linked to national security as well as Americans’ individual prosperity and liberty – in Alabama and all the 50 states of energy.
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.