Power Content for Washington
Electricity can be generated in a number of different ways, with different impacts on the environment. The information below lists the sources of energy used by electric companies throughout the state of Washington and definitions of various energy sources follows:
Power Content
|
Energy Resources
|
Net System Mix*
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Biomass |
.77%
|
|
| Coal |
44.29%
|
|
| Hydroelectric |
34.76%
|
|
| Landfill Gases |
0.11%
|
|
| Natural Gas |
17.46%
|
|
| Nuclear |
1.41%
|
|
| Other |
0.13%
|
|
| Petroleum |
0.43%
|
|
| Waste |
0.64%
|
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
|
Fuel mix definitions
- Biomass generation is from burning solid organic fuels from wood, forest or field residue, or dedicated energy crops.
- Coal generation uses coal as the primary fuel source.
- Hydroelectric generation is created when water flows from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, and the flow is converted to electricity.
- Landfill gas uses waste gases produced from the decomposition of organic materials to produce electricity.
- Natural gas generation uses natural gas as the primary fuel source.
- Nuclear generation uses a controlled atomic chain reaction to produce heat. The heat is used to make steam that then runs conventional turbine generators.
- Petroleum generation burns oil as a primary fuel source.
- Waste incineration burns solid or liquid wastes from businesses, households, municipalities or waste treatment operations.
*Percentages are estimated annually by the State of Wasington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development based on the electricity sold to Washington consumers during the previous year.
**Special purchases such as Blue Sky are not included in the net system mix.
updated 03/10
