As mentioned in a previous blog, states in the US with the least amount of renewable energy production also have some of the highest amounts of fossil fuel production. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, out of all the energy produced in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, only 0.95% (WV) and 4.42% (PA) is renewable energy. With developments in technology across the globe, renewable energy production continues to become easier and more efficient to produce. This blog examines how states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania can take advantage of shifting their energy production from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

To understand the energy capabilities of both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, we first must take a look at the current production in each state. Starting with West Virginia, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), WV produces 4,110 trillion BTUs of energy annually which is ranks 4th in the United States. As mentioned in the introduction, most of the energy produced in the state is by way of fossil fuels (99.05%). Of those fossil fuels, coal remains king in West Virginia, according to the EIA, in 2015 the state produced just shy of 2,500 trillion BTUs of coal. This puts WV 2nd in the nation in coal production behind only Wyoming. Of the 0.95% of the state’s renewable energy production, hydroelectric tops the chart at a mere 0.431% of total energy production.

On to Pennsylvania now, according to the EIA, PA produces 7,461 trillion BTUs of energy annually putting them just above WV in the nation at 3rd. The only two states that produce more energy than Pennsylvania or West Virginia are Texas and Wyoming. Also of the energy produced in PA, 95.58% is by way of fossil fuels. However, the top fossil fuel is different than West Virginia’s. The top fossil fuel in PA is natural gas which accounts for 5,000 trillion Btu’s of energy per year. PA is 2nd in the US behind only Texas in natural gas production. Biomass leads the way in terms of renewable energy production totaling 2.95% of the state’s energy production.

(Click HERE to get a state-by-state breakdown of energy production courtesy of the EIA)

As you can imagine from the numbers above, both state economies are driven by the production of energy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 12% of the total state GDP in WV, and 7% in PA, Is from the mining/extraction of coal, natural gas, etc. This is compared to just 1% of national GDP being centered around this energy production. (HERE you can find a breakdown from each state courtesy of the BEA. The Bureau of Economic Analysis is a wonderful resource for exploring the economies of each individual state.) This being said, fossil fuels make up a huge percentage of PA and WV’s individual economies. This can make the states hesitant to want to adopt renewable energy production methods, as it is a huge risk to the state economies to lower fossil fuel production.

The perception that people have on taking the risk of limiting fossil fuel production could be changed if they could see progress being made around the globe to increase renewable energy production. Denmark is a great example of such progress. According to the Government of Denmark, the Danes plan to eliminate all fossil fuel energy by 2050. Wind power is a huge reason why they plan to be able to achieve this feat. The RTE News reports that in 2016 wind produced 43% of the power consumed by the Denmark. This is one of the highest percentages across the globe. This turn from oil and gas production into renewable energy has also helped Denmark become more energy independent. The RTE News also reports that as of 2016 are now 90% self-sufficient. Denmark is just one example of numerous other countries around the world working to eliminate fossil fuels. Renewable energy technologies that have been growing across the globe include: solar heat, solar thermal electricity, wind power, geothermal power, thermal power, etc. The EIA breaks down each of these technologies HERE)

How could states like Pennsylvania and West Virginia implement such renewable energy technologies?

The states need no further than to look at the abundant natural resources each state has available. Both states have hundreds of available acreages that could be used for solar and wind power generation. In West Virginia, wind power has been one of the fastest growing renewable energies in the state according to the Energy Office of WV. The Energy Office also states that since 2007, wind energy production has climbed from under 3 trillion BTUs to over 10 trillion BTUs. In Pennsylvania, solar power has seen similar growth. I have seen such solar power generation first hand at Pocono Raceway. Pocono Raceway has its own solar farm on its property that helps generate electricity for the complex. The track has become the only NASCAR track to have such energy production. For West Virginia, I believe hydroelectric power could be the future for the state. According to a 2012 study from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Ohio River Valley has the largest hydroelectric power generation potential of any other region in the US. Through my own research into the 30 dams in operation in WV, only 3 currently have hydroelectric power capabilities. Converting these dams into hydroelectric power generators could a be a huge step into converting power generation in West Virginia from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Renewable energy production in “fossil fuels” states like Pennsylvania and West Virginia could be help shift the United States’ perception of climate change. Pennsylvanians and West Virginians alike have grown up in economies driven by fossil fuel production and have experienced the benefits of the production first hand. If more people of these states begin to see the positive effects of renewable energy in countries like Denmark, their reluctance to move away from fossil fuels could begin to fade. The next 10-15 years will be an important time period to see if such progress can be made. It is my hope that leaders of states like Pennsylvania and West Virginia can see the benefits that renewable energy provides for the environment AND the economy. Be sure to share this blog and comment below! See you next time as I will be discussing how climate change policy could be implemented into republican areas of the country.