surprising facts on energy

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Dear Delanceyplace readers, 

Here is a special, short video clip about the realities and myths about America's energy sources. It's not political – something we always strive to avoid – it's just a really well done clip about the facts of America's energy profile – produced in fact, by USA Facts and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer who has committed himself to getting 'just the facts' out to Americans during this time of political and policy choice in the country.

This is very much in keeping with the data orientation we always find helpful.

Some of the zingers that caught my attention were:

• With just 4% of the world's population, the US uses 16% of the world's energy, more than any other country than China which has four times the US population
• America consumed 93.6 Quadrillion BTUs of energy – but a single BTU is about equal to the energy released burning a single match
• Total energy costs for households has actually dropped from 8.2% to 4.2% of total spending
• 20 years ago, 88% of total energy use came from oil, coal and gas but that has shrunk to 82% today.
• But renewables are growing fast and all renewables are now at about 9% of the total energy use picture; nuclear power is also about 9%

I could go on – but the 14 minute video will make you pretty much a well informed citizen, almost an expert, given the great content in this material. Ballmer takes no sides, doesn't push an agenda and says that the facts are important and people should take the facts and make their own decisions on policy.

We thought this energy video was uniquely good – and we hope you will not only take a look at it, but feel free to share this with others who ought to be brought up to speed on what's happening in American energy – a key political issue for a lot of Americans.

All we care about is that you have a good resource to buttress your views and arguments as we head into a big election.  And if you want more on the budget, or immigration, here is a site with more videos and information.

Thanks for looking at this, and sharing with friends and family.  It always helps to know the data.

Richard