Study: Missouri, Illinois spent $2.6B to import coal
Illinois sent $1.49 billion out of state to pay for the coal that generated its energy in 2008, according to a report from a nonprofit that promotes environmental concerns.
Missouri sent $1.13 billion out of state, the report said.
That’s because more than 94 percent of the coal used by Illinois power plants in 2008 was imported, and more than 99 percent of the coal used by Missouri was imported —primarily from Wyoming for both states, the Union of Concerned Scientists report said.
The report says states would benefit from spending more money on local renewable energy technology and energy efficiency programs.
The state of Missouri is the most dependent on net imports as a share of total state electricity use, at 82 percent, the report said. Missouri spent about 22 cents a person on ratepayer-backed electricity efficiency programs in 2007, but cutting annual energy use by 1 percent could save consumers $30 million and keep the state from having to send as much as $13 million out of state in the first year.
Renewable energy sources, particularly wind and bioenergy, could generate about nine times Missouri’s 2008 electricity needs, the report said.
Illinois was the 14th most dependent on total net imports. The state was one of the top coal-producing states in 2008, with 32.9 million tons produced.
Illinois makes the list of 10 most-dependent states for tonnage of imports, coming in fourth, but not for expenditures because almost all its imports come from relatively low-cost mines in Wyoming.
Illinois spent 6 cents per person on ratepayer-funded electricity efficiency programs in 2007, the report said. But Illinois has adopted a strong energy efficiency resource standard, the nonprofit said, and utilities must rely on renewable energy to supply 25 percent of the state’s power by 2025.
