Alabama has the energy to get us through winter
It has been a cold winter in Alabama. It’s not a record breaking one, but it still seems like we have had our fair share of arctic blasts from the north this season.
Many school systems in the state have used up or are close to using up their storm days due to the ice that pelted Alabama earlier this month.
Ice on roads and bridges is something we cannot do much about. We do not keep salt for melting as they do in northern climates, and there is little to do but wait for the thermometer to rise. In some places it took a whole week before buses could get going again.
We don’t do cold well, and thank goodness it usually doesn’t stay around very long. By March we’ll start to see the sure signs of spring, and even before then a 70 degree day will pop up bringing with it a sense that winter is over.
However, as sure as anything another cold front will descend upon us, and we’ll be huddling for warmth once again, and using more energy.
The cold brings up the topic of energy. How are we as a state doing producing energy? How efficient are we in using energy in our homes? Can we be better when it comes to energy?
We are fortunate that Alabama has a wide variety of energy sources, and the sector is a significant part our state economy. Production of coal, methane, oil, and hydroelectric power drive a significant portion of our state’s gross domestic product.
As an example, Alabama ranks in the top tier of coal producers in country. While coal production has dropped somewhat in the last couple of decades, we still were 15th in nation for coal production overall.
Along with the coal is a vibrant coalbed methane industry. Add the natural gas fields in the southern part of our state and in state waters, and Alabama is contributing a great deal to the nation’s natural gas supply, which is a critical component of the nation’s energy usage.
Last year, Alabama was a net exporter of electricity, due to our resources in hydroelectric dams along the Tennessee, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers, as well as coal and natural gas fired electric plants that often use locally produced fuel. While it doesn’t necessarily mean we all get a price break because of the surplus, it does mean we are not at the mercy of other states and nations when it comes to power. Our strong electric capacity is one of the reasons why Alabamans pay less than most for electricity.
Such power resources are a key part of industrial recruitment and maintaining a growing manufacturing sector in our state. More than half of Alabama’s energy use goes to commercial purposes and 44 percent of all energy consumption goes directly to fire the state’s industries, from steel production to auto manufacturing, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Alabamians use less energy for personal transportation and residential use than industry, yet it still represents a significant portion of power consumption. Moreover, while the summer cooling bills are probably what we most fear, the current cold spells during these winter months can certainly kick up our energy use.
Firing up the heat pump, gas furnace or other heating appliances fires up our own costs.
There are a wide variety of simple things we can do to save energy during the winter. This includes refreshing the air filter to our heating system, setting the thermostat at 68 degrees or below, insulating the water heater and pipes, making sure our ducts are insulated, and cutting down on hot water use.
To get better gas mileage, one of the best things to do is make sure your tires are properly inflated. There are hundreds of simple and inexpensive energy saving tips on U.S Department of Energy’s website: http://www.energysavers.gov.
Let’s hope that the ice storms are things of the past, and below freezing temperatures are rare as we look toward spring. Alabama will continue to produce the energy that keeps us warm, and keeps our state’s economy energized as well.
Johnny Mack Morrow is a state representative for Franklin County. His column appears each Wednesday.
