Climate and Energy - Learn About Energy

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LEARN ABOUT ENERGY
Energy powers our lives. From homes to transportation, retail to manufacturing. But how much energy do we really use? For individual customers, their bill offers insight. For a picture of energy use across Michigan, the categories below will take away some of the mystery.

Michigan Energy Profile
Michigan has a diverse energy profile. Power comes from coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and other sources. The state ranks 31st nationally in total energy consumption and 35th nationally in total energy expenditures, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. As of 2016, natural gas was the most-used fuel, followed by motor gasoline, coal, nuclear electric power, and distillate fuel oil. Here’s a look at Michigan by-the-numbers:

Michigan Energy Profile
More than three-quarters of homes in Michigan use natural gas for heat. What other forms of energy are consumed and how much does it all cost?
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Electricity
In 2017, coal-fired power plants provided 37 percent of Michigan's net electricity generation, up from 2016. How does that compare to other years?
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Natural Gas
Michigan has more underground natural gas storage capacity than any other state, equal to almost 1.1 trillion cubic feet. Which sector of the economy uses the most?
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Nuclear Power
Michigan’s three nuclear power plants – Cook, Palisades, and Fermi – have a total of four reactor units, provided 29% of the state's net electricity generation in 2017. How is it consumed?
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Propane
Michigan is the number 1 user nationally of propane fuel to heat homes, with more than 22,000 households in the U.P. and nearly 300,000 in lower Michigan. Which counties use the most?
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Renewables
Renewable energy accounted for 8 percent of Michigan's net electricity generation in 2017. Which form was the most popular?
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Energy Waste Reduction
Michigan’s Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) standard requires all natural gas and electric utility providers in the state to implement programs to reduce overall energy usage by specified targets, to reduce the future cost of service to utility customers. For every dollar spent on EWR programs in 2016, customers should expect to realize benefits of $4.29.
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Energy Use in MI
Whether powering a home or a downtown, Michiganders want reliable energy at an affordable cost. Below is the breakdown of energy use for residents and for businesses and communities. Check out expenditures, consumption, rankings, and comparisons to neighboring states.

Residential Use
Michigan’s residents used approximately 714 trillion Btus of energy in 2016, according to the federal EIA. How much did we spend per capita on energy?
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Business & Community use
The commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors combined spent more than $22 billion on energy in 2016, according to the EIA. What was it spent on?
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About Energy for Kids"

What is energy? Where does it come from? How can I save energy? Get answers to these questions – and more – at the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Energy Kids website. You’ll find resources for students and teachers, games, history lessons, and help with that science fair project for all grades. Thinking about a career in energy? There’s information on that, too. Pay attention, class!

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