Charts of the Week: 1) Global Coal Consumption by Region; 2) U.S. Population Growth in Hurricane-Prone Areas; 3) A History of U.S. Energy Use by Energy Source, and 4) A History of U.S. Renewable Energy Use by Source

     The first chart comes from the Energy Institute’s 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy.  It is a chart of global coal consumption by region, and it shows very clearly that the Asia Pacific region is using the most coal by a wide margin. Much of that coal is used in China to make batteries, solar, wind, and EV parts that are sold to the U.S. and other countries trying to lead the energy transition. It is a point of hypocrisy that coal is powering the energy transition to such a degree.

 

     The second chart comes from Bjorn Lomborg and shows U.S. population growth in hurricane-prone areas. Lomborg and others have argued for years now that this is the main reason so-called climate change costs are increasing. The same is true to a lesser degree in wildfire-prone areas.

 

     The third and fourth charts are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and show the history of U.S. energy use by energy source and the history of U.S. renewable energy use by energy source. The first chart exemplifies that fossil fuels are still running our country by a wide margin. The 2^nd chart shows that while increases in wind and solar deployment may be impressive, we still derive more energy from burning wood than we do from wind and about twice as much from wood as solar. We use as much solar energy as we did energy from wood around 1800. More sobering news for those who think a fast energy transition is actually occurring.

 

References:

2024/73^rd Edition Statistical Review of World Energy. Energy Institute. June 2024. Statistical Review of World Energy (1).pdf

Welfare in the 21st century: Increasing development, reducing inequality, the impact of climate change, and the cost of climate policies. Bjorn Lomborg. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. Volume 156, July 2020, 119981. Welfare in the 21st century: Increasing development, reducing inequality, the impact of climate change, and the cost of climate policies - ScienceDirect

How has energy use changed throughout U.S. history? Energy Information Administration. Today in Energy. July 3, 2024. How has energy use changed throughout U.S. history? - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)