Georgia State Economic Account Georgia Economic Account View/Print/Download the complete report in PDF format The Bureau of Economic Analysis, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, annually compiles Economic Accounts reports at the national and state/regional levels. These reports consist of the following six elements: Per capita personal income in the state. Personal income is a more comprehensive measure of income than adjusted gross income, as used by the Internal Revenue Service. Among the elements it includes are tax-exempt income, the income of nonprofit institutions that primarily serve individuals, and property income earned on life insurance and annuity reserves of life insurance carriers. Total personal income (the sum of all personal income) in the state compared to the nation. A graph indicates the annual growth rate in the state and compares it both to the national figure and to the previous decade. Components of the state’s personal income. These statistics are compared to the national figures and to the previous decade. Gross domestic product (total production of goods and services) of the state. Gross domestic product (GDP) broken down by industry. Per capita GDP of the state compared to the region and the nation. Per capita GDP is obtained by dividing the GDP by the population of the state. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S. Department of Commerce)

Georgia State Agriculture Agriculture Overview View/Print/Download the complete report in PDF format STATE AGRICULTURE OVERVIEW (YEARLY) This yearly state agriculture report offers the most recent data on 32 kinds of crops, from alfalfa to winter wheat. It indicates acreage planted, acreage harvested, yield, production, and, where available, price per unit and total crop dollar value. The methods of collecting the data are not as exacting as those used for the census (see below), but they have advantages for researchers who need the most up-to-date information. Background For over two centuries, the U.S. government has recognized and responded to the importance of keeping accurate agricultural information. The nation's first agricultural survey was conducted by President George Washington. In 1791, Washington personally conducted a mail survey of farms in present-day Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia to collect agricultural statistics on land values, crops, yields, livestock prices, and taxes. Washington sent the details of his survey to an English correspondent, Arthur Young. Uses of Agricultural Surveys The reports Washington sent Young reflect some of the same concerns farmers have today. He worried that prices weren't keeping up with the cost of raising crops. He worried that some farmers weren't taking care of their land. He worried about the cost of transporting agricultural goods to markets and improving those routes. Washington's legacy of surveying and reporting on the state of agriculture in our country continued during the Civil War, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture collected and distributed crop and livestock statistics to help farmers assess the value of the goods they produced. At that time, commodity buyers usually had more current and detailed market information than did farmers. This circumstance often prevented farmers from getting a fair price for the goods they produced on their farms. Producers in today's marketplace would be similarly handicapped were it not for the information provided by the USDA?s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Census of Agriculture View/Print/Download the complete report in PDF format CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE (EVERY FIVE YEARS) The report at right summarizes the latest census data, compiled in 2007. The survey is conducted every five years by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The NASS collects statistics at the national, state/territory, and county levels, making an effort to count every U.S. farm. For purposes of the census, any place that produced and sold $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year was considered a farm. The first page of this summary answers the questions: How many farms are in the state? How big are the farms? What do the farms produce? How profitable are the farms and how much government subsidy do they receive? The tables on the second page go into more detail. They show: The value of the state's various agricultural products The state's rank among states that grow the same crops How much land is used for the most important crops and livestock items The age, gender, and ethnicity of people who operate farms, and whether their primary occupation is farming. Uses of the Agricultural Census Among those who use the data are farm organizations; businesses; state departments of agriculture; elected representatives and legislative bodies at all levels of government; public and private sector analysts; the news media; and colleges and universities. With accurate agricultural statistics, public and private entities concerned with agriculture can create better conditions to support the productivity and success of the country's farming operations. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (National Agricultural Statistics Service)

Georgia GDP by State and Industry

The data shown below are for 2008. Figures are in millions of current dollars. All industry total 401,436   Private industries 345,097       Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting 4,052           Crop and animal production (Farms) 3,160           Forestry, fishing, and related activities 891       Mining 489           Oil and gas extraction,(L)           Mining, except oil and gas 453           Support activities for mining 36       Utilities 8,414       Construction 19,146       Manufacturing 43,000           Durable goods 18,309               Wood product manufacturing 1,294               Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing 1,466               Primary metal manufacturing 1,113               Fabricated metal product manufacturing 2,375               Machinery manufacturing 2,563               Computer and electronic product manufacturing 1,414               Electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing 1,750               Motor vehicle, body, trailer, and parts manufacturing 1,469               Other transportation equipment manufacturing 2,615               Furniture and related product manufacturing 819               Miscellaneous manufacturing 1,429           Nondurable goods 24,691               Food product manufacturing 8,774               Textile and textile product mills 4,049               Apparel manufacturing 221               Paper manufacturing 3,798               Printing and related support activities 1,393               Petroleum and coal products manufacturing 398               Chemical manufacturing 3,584               Plastics and rubber products manufacturing 2,474       Wholesale trade 30,587       Retail trade 25,253       Transportation and warehousing, excluding Postal Service 14,866           Air transportation 4,373           Rail transportation 992           Water transportation 50           Truck transportation 4,001           Transit and ground passenger transportation 405           Pipeline transportation 61           Other transportation and support activities 3,307           Warehousing and storage 1,677       Information 25,235           Publishing including software 4,204           Motion picture and sound recording industries 541           Broadcasting and telecommunications 18,742           Information and data processing services 1,748       Finance and insurance 24,125           Federal Reserve banks, credit intermediation and related services 11,764           Securities, commodity contracts, investments 2,357           Insurance carriers and related activities 9,235           Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles 769       Real estate and rental and leasing 49,120           Real estate 42,604           Rental and leasing services and lessors of intangible assets 6,517       Professional and technical services 28,457           Legal services 5,212           Computer systems design and related services 5,362           Other professional, scientific and technical services 17,883       Management of companies and enterprises 6,439       Administrative and waste services 13,844           Administrative and support services 13,048           Waste management and remediation services 796       Educational services 3,967       Health care and social assistance 24,342           Ambulatory health care services 13,090           Hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities 9,370           Social assistance 1,882       Arts, entertainment, and recreation 2,631           Performing arts, museums, and related activities 1,472           Amusement, gambling, and recreation 1,159       Accommodation and food services 11,670           Accommodation 2,537           Food services and drinking places 9,132       Other services, except government 9,459   Government 56,339       Federal civilian 10,572       Federal military 9,263       State and local 36,505 Data Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S. Department of Commerce) For further reference: Gross Domestic Product by State: Advance Statistics for 2009 and Revised Statistics for 1963-2008

Georgia Economic Overview

INTRODUCTION  Downtown Atlanta, the "Capital of the South" Georgia’s warm southern climate and reputation for hospitality are some of the reasons why more than 100,000 people move there each year, making the state among the top 10 fastest-growing in the U.S. Other reasons are Georgia’s excellent health care, educational facilities, and career opportunities. Lovers of the outdoors can enjoy Georgia’s beaches and famous golf courses, as well as fishing on the state’s many rivers. Visitors from around the world tour the state’s numerous parks and cultural sites, and Georgia’s tourism destinations employ more than 200,000 residents and generate billions of dollars for the state economy. The cosmopolitan state capital, Atlanta, is also known as the "Capital of the South." Located along major transportation routes, Atlanta is a leading center of tourism, transportation, communications, government, and industry. The historic port city of Savannah is the second largest container port in the country. Today, Georgia's total gross state product is nearly $400 billion and its per capita personal income is roughly $33,500. The manufacture of textiles and textile products has long been Georgia's leading industry, but additional industries include automobile and aircraft manufacturing, food and chemical processing, timber, printing, paper products, and publishing. Agricultural products include cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, and poultry. ECONOMIC HISTORY The Bustling Port City of Savannah Georgia’s early settlers flourished in what was first a royal colony, exporting rice, indigo, deerskins, lumber, naval stores, beef, and pork to England, from which they imported the manufactured items they needed. With the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, Georgia began to prosper as a cotton-growing state. Cotton was cultivated under the plantation system using slave labor. By the 1840s a textile industry was established in the state, which recovered from the devastation of the Civil War and expanded into the 1880s. Atlanta, which had succeeded Milledgeville as the capital in 1868, grew into a thriving industrial city, largely due to its importance as the center of an expanding regional railroad network. The effect of the war on agriculture, which could no longer rely on slave labor, was more serious. The breakup of large plantations resulted in the rise of tenant farming and sharecropping. After World War I, agriculture suffered severe setbacks as the boll weevil migrated from Mexico and infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s. The plague devastated the cotton industry and affected the entire American South. (Mississippi State University has estimated that the boll weevil plague has cost U.S. cotton producers some $13 billion.) On the other hand, the boll weevil infestation has been credited with stimulating the diversification of the southern economy, in particular Georgia’s peanut industry. The agricultural depression began in Georgia before the Great Depression of the 1930s, which ended with the advent of World War II and the wartime economy. Today, roughly half of the jobs in Georgia are in the Atlanta metropolitan area, where automobile manufacturing is centered. Service industries are next most important to Georgia's economy, followed by wholesale and retail trade. AGRICULTURE Georgia's agricultural outputs are poultry and eggs, corn, soybeans, pecans, peaches, peanuts, rye, cattle, hogs, dairy products, turfgrass, tobacco, and vegetables. Until 2006, Georgia was the world’s largest producer of pecans. In that year pecan production was about 40 million pounds, with revenue of about $62 million. Since 1928, Georgia peach production has been steady at 2.6 million bushels per year, bringing in some $35 million. Gainesville, in northeast Georgia, boasts of being the "Poultry Capital of the World." This is because Georgia produces some 25 million pounds of chicken and 14 million eggs every day, with a statewide economic impact of nearly $14 billion annually. Cotton, once Georgia's most valuable crop, has declined, as the importance of peanuts, tobacco, and corn increased in the 1990s. Livestock and poultry raising account for the largest share of farm income with broilers, eggs, and cattle as major products. The number of workers in agriculture and livestock is around 56,000. BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES A large number of reputable banking and financial institutions are represented in Georgia and have become highly competitive. The state’s 314 insured financial institutions earn $240 million annually. Financial services employs 195,000 workers in credit intermediation and securities and other financial services. Georgia’s banks employ 47,500 workers. The SunTrust Bank was established in Georgia in 1885 and is now one of the leading banking services providers in the United States. COMMUNICATIONS Atlanta has enjoyed enormous growth in the rapidly expanding communications industry, which employs some 116,000 workers. This includes workers in publishing, software publishing, motion picture and sound recording, radio and television broadcasting, cable programming, and Internet publishing and broadcasting. Georgia is home to Ted Turner, the television pioneer who founded networks TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, CNN (the first 24-hour news network), and Headline News, among others. The CNN Center, which houses the news channel's world headquarters, is located in downtown Atlanta. Turner Broadcasting is now a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. CNN Center Georgia Public Broadcasting operates nine major educational television stations across the state as Georgia Public Broadcasting Television. It serves state agencies and Georgia educational programming through telecommunications technology. The 60 companies that manufacture communications equipment employ around 4,700 workers. Bell South is one of the largest employers in Georgia, with over 80,000 workers. CONSTRUCTION Nonresidential construction spending in Georgia totaled $23 billion in 2007 and supported 530,000 jobs. Direct construction spending in the state contributed $58 billion (15 percent) to its GSP and added $18 billion in additional personal earnings by residents. Annual pay of construction workers in Georgia averages $43,500. During the recent global economic crisis, revenues from new residential construction contracts declined to $6.6 billion, down from $16.3 billion in 2006. EDUCATION Emory University In 2009 Georgia was ranked first nationally for the use of educational technology. Georgia has also earned national recognition for pioneering programs and high academic standards. There are 116,500 elementary and high school teachers responsible for 1.6 million students in the state. Revenue earned from the education sector amounts to $14.8 billion.  Georgia is home to almost 70 public colleges, universities, and technical colleges and more than 45 private institutes of higher learning. Higher education supports a staff of 70,300 in colleges, universities, and professional schools. Large universities in the state include the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Emory University. ENERGY Georgia's electricity generation and consumption are among the highest in the nation. Coal is the primary fuel for electricity generation, providing 75 percent of the state’s energy needs. The state also has two nuclear power plants, which generate 16 percent of Georgia's electricity. Natural gas and oil contribute another 7 percent, and only 1 percent comes from hydroelectric sources. The utilities industry employs 20,100 workers, including 17,660 in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution, and 1,760 in natural gas distribution. Atlanta-based Southern Company is the main energy company in the Southeast. Another company, Georgia Power, contributes heavily to the state economy, attracting nearly $2 billion in new capital investment projects and more than 8,400 new jobs to the state. Georgia Power's Community and Economic Development organization was ranked as one of the best in the world for 10 years running. ENTERTAINMENT Georgia produces a wide range of entertainment, from ballet to opera to television shows, and hundreds of feature films have been produced in the state. Television networks, Hollywood studios, production companies, and independent producers have invested more than $520 million in Georgia, resulting in an economic impact of some $930 million. Georgia is home to one of the most experienced film crew bases in the country, with more than 4,000 professionals. Some 300 entertainment productions are produced in Georgia each year, yielding an economic impact of $470 million. Another 800 workers are employed in production, supplies, and support. Georgia’s music industry gained momentum with revenue growth of $300 million from 2005 to 2007. The state’s music industry now ranks number five in the nation, with annual revenues of $1.2 billion and an economic impact of more than $2 billion. The entertainment industry employs more than 9,500 Georgians working in more than 1,000 companies with an annual payroll of $85 million. The industry pays more than $55 million annually in state taxes. INSURANCE Georgia’s insurance industry employs around 85,000 workers and contributes $7.4 billion to the gross state product. The insurance industry is responsible for $345 million in state taxes paid on premiums. American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) is a Georgia-based company that provides insurance policies to individuals and employers. In its first year of operations, AFLAC had 6,426 policyholders and $388,000 in assets. It has grown to be a Fortune 500 company with over $56 billion in assets and more than 40 million international clients. MANUFACTURING Georgia Pacific Building, Downtown Atlanta Georgia has a long history in the manufacturing of textiles. Other major manufactured products include transportation equipment, foods, paper products, cigarettes, and chemicals. With a rich resource of pine forests, Georgia is a leading producer of lumber and pulpwood. Automobile manufacturing is important in Atlanta, where some 550,000 employees work in the manufacturing industry. Exports from Georgia manufacturing totaled $25.2 billion in 2008, ranking it the 13th largest state for exports in the nation. Georgia has more than 2,500 international companies that employ more than 148,000 workers through capital investment of around $24.3 billion. Other corporations headquartered in Georgia include Coca-Cola, Arby's, and Home Depot, with $84 billion in revenue. Some of the largest manufacturing employers in Georgia include Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Lockheed Martin, Tyson Foods, Shaw Industries, Southwire Company, and International Paper. MINING AND EXTRACTION The most valuable minerals produced in Georgia are clays, stone, kaolin, iron ore, sand, and gravel, but the state is most famous for its fine marble. The clay palygorskite, known as attapulgite, was named because of its abundance near the Decatur County town of Attapulgus in southwest Georgia. Attapulgite is in demand for its medical, cosmetic, and industrial uses. Mining companies in Georgia employ around 7,700 workers and generate annual sales of $118 million. Of those sales, $8.5 million come from metal ore mining, $370,000 from lead and zinc, $2 million from uranium, and $320,000 from iron. NONPROFITS Georgia’s nonprofit organizations are thriving, and the number of charitable nonprofits grew 36 percent between 2000 and 2005. The 43,029 nonprofit organizations based in the state report income of $60.3 billion. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits aids philanthropic organizations in meeting the challenges in effecting positive change throughout each community. Some of the nonprofit organizations located in Georgia are the Arthritis Foundation, American Cancer Society, and CARE. Habitat for Humanity International’s headquarters is in Georgia and reports annual revenue of $250 million. RETAIL There are more than 49,500 retail establishments with more than 789,000 employees in Georgia, generating annual sales in excess of $144.5 billion. Revenue from sales tax collected on retail sales amount to some $700 million. There are 15 Fortune 500 companies and 26 Fortune 1000 companies with headquarters in Georgia, including the Coca-Cola Company (with $28 billion in revenue), Georgia-Pacific, Hooters, Delta Air Lines, Newell Rubbermaid, Primerica Financial Services, United Parcel Service, (with $49 billion in revenue), Waffle House, and NCR Corporation. TECHNOLOGY Georgia is an important participant in high-tech industry, with Atlanta offering the tenth largest high-tech employment base in the nation. Of Georgia’s 108,000 technology workers, 52,400 are employed in telecommunications, 28,500 in wired telecommunications carriers, 11,800 in wireless telecommunications carriers, and 7,300 as Internet service providers. The bioscience industry in Georgia provides nearly 18,000 direct jobs and more than 62,000 indirect jobs, as well as $16 billion in sales and $517 million in state and local tax revenues. Life sciences research at the state’s colleges and universities generates about 15,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in sales. Healthcare informatics (the combination of information science, computer science, and health care) in Georgia generates over $4 billion, making the state one of the leading health IT clusters in the U.S. Major employers include Lucent Technologies, Pfeiffer Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Laboratories, and Quintiles Laboratories Limited. TRANSPORTATION Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Georgia’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest passenger airport, serving more than 90 million in 2008. As the largest employer in Georgia, the airport employs about 56,000 workers, including ground transportation, concessionaire, security, federal government, city of Atlanta, and airport tenant employees. Its net operating revenues for 2008 were $214.8 million and gross revenues totaled $386 million. Each year about 655,000 metric tons of cargo pass through the airport. The Port of Savannah is the second largest container port in the southeastern U.S. and is the fastest growing port in the United States. Major freight railroads in Georgia include CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway, and there are also two passenger routes. Georgia has 107 public-use airports, nine of which are commercial-aviation airports and 98 of which are general-aviation airports. Two of the state's most important airports are Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, which serves more 1.7 million passengers each year, and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Georgia. TRAVEL AND TOURISM Okefenokee Swamp Georgia’s combination of a mild climate and Southern hospitality makes it a popular tourist draw, attracting more than 60 million visitors annually. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the Okefenokee Swamp, and the World of Coca-Cola are just a few of the popular attractions. Savannah, a port city on the U.S. Intercoastal Waterway, is famous for its architecture. The Sea Islands are a popular resort destination. Warm Springs, established for treatment of poliomyelitis, is now a historical landmark. Georgia's other attractions include Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, and Stone Mountain. Direct expenditures by tourists amount to some $20.2 billion each year. SPECIAL INDUSTRIES Robins Air Force Base As a leader in the aerospace industry, Georgia is home to more than 500 global aerospace-related companies, with numerous aircraft suppliers based in Houston County and the surrounding region. Georgia enjoys a close technology and industrial base development partnership with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, one of three U.S. Air Force Air Logistics Centers in the United States. Robins Air Force Base is Georgia’s largest industrial complex and industrial employer, with approximately 27,000 employees and a total economic impact of more than $4.2 billion. Georgia companies and researchers are responsible for over $5 billion in contracts to maintain and repair aircraft. They also work in collaboration with USAF engineers to support the missions of Robins Air Force Base, which is a global magnet for aerospace and defense logistics companies. Various federal facilities that are located in Georgia also contribute to the economy, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as a dozen military installations. -World Trade Press

Solar Maps Solar maps provide monthly average daily total solar resource information on grid cells. The insolation values represent the resource available to a flat plate collector, such as a photovoltaic panel, oriented due south at an angle from horizontal to equal to the latitude of the collector location. This is typical practice for PV system installation, although other orientations are also used. Several map variations are accessible below. For information on how these maps were developed, access the How the Maps Were Made. Note: To view maps, Pop-ups must be enabled in your web browser. Types of Maps These maps show national solar photovoltaics (PV) resource potential and concentrating solar power (CSP) resource potential for the United States. They are available in JPEG format. PHOTOVOLTAICS Low Resolution - JPG 111 KB High Resolution - JPG 32.5 MB note: Hi-Res is large! CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER Low Resolution - JPG 113 KB High Resolution - JPG 8.7 MB note: Hi-Res is large! DYNAMIC U.S. SOLAR ATLAS Click here to view the Atlas This map interface accesses monthly average PVWatts Version 2 - Dynamic Maps solar resource information for any given location in the United States. It also provides access to spreadsheets giving average monthly radiation for 14 different types of solar collectors. Data for individual collectors are also available for fixed, flat-plate (photovoltaic) collectors on five different orientations. Added features include a zoom tool, which allows the user to zoom to zip codes and latitude/longitude locations. Learn how to use the U.S. Solar Atlas. (If you have pop-up blockers enabled, the PVWATTS Version 2 application on this Web site will not work properly.) PVWATTS VERSION 2—DYNAMIC MAP PVWATTS calculates electrical energy produced by a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed PVWATTS to permit non-experts to quickly obtain performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems within the United States. To access this calculator, go to PVWATTS Version 2. MAP OF U.S. SOLAR MEASUREMENT STATION LOCATIONS - DYNAMIC MAP This U.S. Solar Measurement Station Locations map shows the spatial distribution of measurement stations across the U.S. This site displays stations that are monitored by the following programs and agencies: DOE's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, NREL's Cooperative Network for Renewable Resource Measurements (CONFRRM), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) that includes: Central UV Calibration Facility (CUCF), Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL), Integrated Surface Irradiance Study (ISIS), SURFace RADiation Budget Measurement Network (SURFRAD), the University of Oregons' Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory, and the University of Texas' Texas Solar Radiation Database. Each of the measurement station locations has a hyperlink that will take the user to the web site of that particular station or associated agency or program. To allow the user to pinpoint their area of interest, reference information such as counties, major roads, major rivers, places (cities), and zip codes have been added. In addition, we have added a tool called PVWatts V2. This tool allows the user to calculate the energy production and cost savings for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems located throughout the United States. PV SOLAR RADIATION (10 KM)—STATIC MAPS

Biomass Maps Energy from Waste Displayed here are maps and information from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory on potentially energy-producing waste products from agriculture and wood products industries. In the past, these residues went to landfill or were left to rot; but since all organic matter contains energy, the opportunity exists to harvest that energy by converting it to electricity. The last three maps show available methane gas in landfills, manure and sewage. When methane is allowed to dissipate into the atmosphere, it contributes to the greenhouse effect, trapping heat near Earth’s surface. Capturing the methane and using it as fuel thus has a double benefit. The maps on this page are the most up-to-date available as of February 3, 2011. Note that some crops are now grown specifically to generate energy in the form of biofuel (ethanol); this page only covers biomass that is created as a byproduct of other industries. Total U.S. biomass resources Total Biomass Resources in the United States  (View/Download/Print JPG 1.5 MB) Crop residues Total Biomass Resources per Square Kilometer in the United States  (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Crop residues Energy from Crop Production Waste The following crops were included in this analysis: corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, sorghum, barley, oats, rice, rye, canola, dry edible beans, dry edible peas, peanuts, potatoes, safflower, sunflower, sugarcane, and flaxseed. The quantities of crop residues that can be available in each county are estimated using total grain production, crop to residue ratio, moisture content, and taking into consideration the amount of residue left on the field for soil protection, grazing, and other agricultural activities. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Forest residues Energy from Logging Waste This category includes logging residues and other removable material left after carrying out silviculture operations and site conversions. Logging residue consists of unused portions of trees cut or killed by logging and left in the woods. Other removable materials are the unutilized volume of trees cut or killed during logging operations. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.6 MB) Primary mill residues Energy from Milling Waste Primary mill residues include wood materials (coarse and fine) and bark generated at manufacturing plants (primary wood-using mills) when round wood products are processed into primary wood products, such as slabs, edgings, trimmings, sawdust, veneer clippings and cores, and pulp screenings. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Secondary mill residues Energy from Woodworking Waste Secondary mill residues include wood scraps and sawdust from woodworking shops — furniture factories, wood container and pallet mills, and wholesale lumberyards. Data on the number of businesses by county was gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 County Business Patterns. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Urban wood waste Energy from Urban Wood Waste Urban wood waste includes wood residues from MSW (wood chips and pallets), utility tree trimming and/or private tree companies, and construction and demolition sites. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Methane emissions from landfills Gas from Garbage The methane emissions are estimated for each landfill considering total waste in place, landfill size, and location (arid or non-arid climate), and then aggregated to county level. Note: this dataset doesn't include all landfills in the United States due to gaps in either precise geographic location or waste in place. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Methane emissions from manure management Gas from Manure The following animal types were included in this analysis: dairy cows, beef cows, hogs and pigs, sheep, chickens and layers, broilers, and turkey. The methane emissions were calculated by animal type and manure management system at a county level. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Methane emissions from domestic wastewater treatment Gas from Sewage The methane emissions are estimated using the methodology from the EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2003. (View/Print/Download JPG 1.5 MB) Source: U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Renewable Energy Potential Maps Renewable Energy Potential Map for South Atlantic States View/Print/Download a PDF version of the map STATE-BY-STATE ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION POTENTIAL Electricity is the most versatile energy. It can be generated from any energy source and transmitted across very long distances. This map is one of a series covering the nine U.S. Census Bureau divisions. It shows where the states are strongest in their potential to generate electricity from four renewable sources. Not every state has high potential in every category; if you live on the northern seacoast, you are more likely to have access to good wind power than to high solar potential. WIND The map shows areas with wind resources of wind power class 4 or greater, which are suitable for most utility-scale wind turbine applications. Class 4 wind blows at about 20-27 kph [12.5 to 16.8 mph]. EARTH'S HEAT (GEOTHERMAL) Only 14 states have significant geothermal resources. The map shows areas with geothermal energy suitable for generating electricity. But if you live near one of the country's hot springs, you may be able to enjoy its energy by jumping in. WOOD The map series shows, in green, counties in which harvested fuelwood is more than 3 million cubic feet (23,437.5 cords). The information comes from a 2001 report by the Forest Service. SUN Areas shown in yellow are the best for collecting solar radiation. The radiation is measured in kilowatt-hours per square meter per day available to be harvested by a photovoltaic panel or similar collector oriented due south at a particular angle. This angle, in order to allow the sun to strike the collector straight-on as much as possible, is equal to the latitude of the collector's location. CLEAN CITIES Motor vehicles are a major consumer of energy, and one that has historically used fossil fuel. The Department of Energy, in order to promote renewable energy as motor fuel, has developed the Clean Cities Program, a voluntary, local, government-industry partnership to expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles and refueling infrastructure. The map shows cities that are members of the program. THIS ISN'T THE WHOLE STORY Not every kind of renewable energy is depicted on this map, and not every use of that energy is considered. Farmlands can harvest methane and burn it to produce heat, then use the heat to generate electricity. It's good to keep in mind, too, that generating electricity is not always the best use of an energy source. This is because using energy directly is more efficient than converting it to a different type. For example, if you have logs and want to heat your home, you'll get better results by burning the logs in your woodstove than by sending them to a plant to generate electricity and then using electricity to heat your home.

Residential Energy Consumption Residential Energy Consumption Map for South Atlantic States View/Print/Download a PDF version of the map STATE-BY-STATE ENERGY USE How much energy does your household use, and what kind? You might be surprised how much the answers depend on where you live. The map at right is part of a series covering the nine U.S. Census divisions. It displays data collected in the 2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). This survey, the twelfth since 1978, was conducted by the National Energy Information Center to investigate the use of energy in residential housing units in the United States. FEATURES The map shows how much natural gas, fuel oil, electricity, and motor gasoline each state consumes. You can get a sense of per capita use by noting the color of the state; the darker the state, the higher its population density. The map also shows average rainfall and gives an idea of how often households are likely to use energy to heat or cool their homes. Blue squares show the level of demand for air conditioning. Red squares show chilly weather when energy is used for heating. EXTENT OF THE SURVEY The 2005 survey collected data from 4,382 households in housing units statistically selected to represent the 111.1 million housing units in the United States. The map shown here uses only some of the information collected; RECS also documented other energy-related data such as the type of housing unit surveyed, who lived there, what types of fuels they used, and what appliances they owned. The RECS also provides energy consumption and expenditures data for natural gas, electricity, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and kerosene. HOW RECS COLLECTS DATA RECS data come from three sources: 45-minute in-person interviews with householders of sampled housing units. Answers provided by rental agents about sampled rental units where energy costs were included in the rent. This information was collected through mail questionnaires, in-person interviews, and telephone interviews. Mail questionnaires from energy suppliers who provide actual energy consumption and expenditure data for the sampled housing unit.

Renewable Energy Sources in the United States Source: U.S. National Atlas Hydropower Wind Power Solar Power Geothermal Power Biomass Power Renewable energy sources are energy sources that are continually replenished. These include energy from water, wind, the sun, geothermal sources, and biomass sources such as energy crops. In contrast, fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable. Once a deposit of these fuels is depleted it cannot be replenished – a replacement deposit must be found instead. Both renewable and non-renewable energy sources are used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heating, cooling, and light. Renewable sources of energy vary widely in their cost-effectiveness and in their availability across the United States. Although water, wind, and other renewables may appear free, their cost comes in collecting, harnessing, and transporting the energy so that it can do useful work. For example, to utilize energy from water, a dam must be built along with electric generators and transmission lines. Renewables themselves are non-polluting, while the structures built to harness them can have positive or negative environmental impacts. For example, dams may affect fish migration but may also create wildlife habitat. Hydropower An impoundment hydropower plant dams water in a reservoir. Hydropower refers to using water to generate electricity. Water is the most common renewable source of energy in the United States today. Many hydroelectric power plants use a dam on a river to store water. Water released from behind the dam flows through a turbine, spinning it, which then turns a generator to produce electricity. Electricity generated this way is known as hydroelectricity, and it accounts for about 7% of the electricity used by the nation. Hydroelectric power doesn't necessarily require a large dam – some hydroelectric power plants just use a small canal to channel the river water through a turbine. A small or micro-hydroelectric power system can produce enough electricity for a home, farm, or ranch. The Tazimina project in Alaska is an example of a diversion hydropower plant. No dam was required. Dam sites for hydropower plants are limited both by available rivers and by competing uses for those rivers, such as recreation, tourism, industry, and human settlements. Because of such limitations, water power could never generate all the electricity used in the United States. In addition, environmental impacts are considered when locating dams. While all hydroelectric dams have some environmental impact, the impacts vary widely, and current regulations and policies attempt to address environmental concerns. A dam may either create a reservoir or may be a run-of-river project that does not store large amounts of water but simply takes advantage of a river's natural flow. Fish ladder. A dam that creates a reservoir may flood a large area upstream, and can change flow patterns and impact flooding downstream with resulting environmental consequences, either positive or negative. Fish migration, which has long been a concern associated with dams, is often addressed with fish ladders and other structures to ensure the successful movement of fish both upstream and downstream. In addition to power, dams often provide other benefits such as recreation opportunities on upstream reservoirs, habitat for a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial species, diversion of water for irrigation, and control of destructive flooding and environmental damage downstream. Hydropower is one of the least expensive sources of electricity and areas with good sources of hydropower tend to attract industries with large needs for electricity. Major hydroelectric dams in the United States are found in the Northwest, the Tennessee Valley, and on the Colorado River. Click image for larger view. Existing hydroelectric plants (yellow) and potential high head/low power energy sites (orange) in the conterminous United States. Purple represents areas excluded from hydropower development due to Federal statutes and policies.  back to top Wind Power Turbines at Martinsdale Hutterite Colony. For hundreds of years, humans have used wind to pump water or grind grain, usually with small windmills. Large, modern wind turbines are used to generate electricity, either for individual use or for contribution to a utility power grid. Wind turbines usually have two or three blades and, because winds above the ground tend to be faster and less turbulent than those near the surface, the turbines are mounted on tall towers to capture the most energy. As the blades turn, the central shaft spins a generator to make electricity. In recent years, wind has become an increasingly attractive source of renewable energy – wind energy is the world's fastest-growing energy technology. Wind turbines placed at sites with strong, steady winds can economically generate electricity without producing pollutants. The power in wind increases rapidly with its speed, which means that locating windmills in areas of strong winds is critical. The strongest winds in the United States tend to be in Alaska, the western United States, and the Appalachians. Wind power currently supplies about 1% of United States electricity needs, but capacity is expanding rapidly. Although wind will contribute more to the United States electric supply in the future, like hydropower it cannot be expected to supply all of our electric needs. United States wind resource map. While wind power helps the environment by producing electricity without producing pollution, there can be negative environmental impacts of wind power generation, including wildlife deaths. However, recent studies suggest that the number of birds and bats killed by collision with wind turbines is far lower than the number killed by collisions with other tall structures such as buildings. Appropriate siting of wind farms and individual turbines can reduce the impact on wildlife. Noise, which was a problem with older turbine designs, has mostly been eliminated through improved engineering. back to top Solar Power Annual average daily solar radiation per month, using a flat-plate collector facing south at a fixed tilt equal to the latitude of the site. Capturing the maximum amount of solar radiation throughout the year can be achieved using a tilt angle approximately equal to the site's latitude. Solar technologies use the sun's energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling, for homes, businesses, and industry. Despite sunlight's significant potential for supplying energy, solar power provides less than 1% of U.S. energy needs. This percentage is expected to increase with the development of new and more efficient solar technologies. Different types of solar collectors are used to meet different energy needs. Passive solar building designs capture the sun's heat to provide space heating and light. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly to electricity. Concentrating solar power systems focus sunlight with mirrors to create a high-intensity heat source, which then produces steam or mechanical power to run a generator that creates electricity. Flat-plate collectors absorb the sun's heat directly into water or other fluids to provide hot water or space heating. And solar process heating and cooling systems use specialized solar collectors and chemical processes to meet large-scale hot water and heating and cooling needs. Solar technologies produce few negative environmental impacts during collector operation. However, there are environmental concerns associated with the production of collectors and storage devices. In addition, cost is a great drawback to solar power. Although sunlight is free, solar cells and the equipment needed to convert their direct-current output to alternating current for use in a house is expensive. Electricity generated by solar cells is still more than twice as expensive as electricity from fossil fuels. Part of the problem with cost is that solar cells can only operate during daylight hours. In contrast, a coal or natural gas plant can run around the clock, which means the cost for building the plant can be spread over many more hours of use. The parabolic troughs that make up this concentrating solar power system generate power from the sun on a large scale in California. Around the United States, available sunlight varies considerably as a result of differences in cloud cover and latitude, and also varies with the seasons. In the summer, longer daylight hours and a higher sun angle provide more solar power, compared to the winter when the sun is up for fewer hours and at a lower position in the sky. These variations must be taken into consideration when planning solar collection facilities. back to top Geothermal Power Geothermal power plant at The Geysers, California. Geothermal power uses the natural sources of heat inside the Earth to produce heat or electricity. Currently, most geothermal power is generated using steam or hot water from underground. Geothermal power generation produces few emissions and the power source is continuously available. There are three geothermal technologies currently in use in the United States: direct-use systems, use of deep reservoirs to generate electricity, and geothermal heat pumps. In direct-use geothermal systems, a well is drilled into a geothermal reservoir to provide a steady stream of hot water. The water is brought up through the well, and a mechanical system—piping, a heat exchanger, and controls—delivers the heat directly for its intended use. A disposal system then either injects the cooled water underground or disposes of it in a surface storage pond. Geothermal hot water is used for heating buildings, raising plants in greenhouses, drying crops, heating water for fish farms, or for industrial processes, at hundreds of sites around the country. Geothermal reservoirs appropriate for direct-use systems are widespread throughout the western United States. Geothermal power plants convert hydrothermal fluids (hot water or steam) to electricity. The oldest type of geothermal power plant uses steam, accessed through deep wells, to directly drive a turbine to produce electricity. Flash steam plants are the most common type of geothermal power plants in operation today. They use extremely hot water (above 300 degrees F (149 degrees C)), which is pumped under high pressure to the generation equipment at the surface. The hot water is vaporized and the vapor in turn drives turbines to generate electricity. Binary-cycle geothermal power plants use moderate-temperature water (100-300 degrees F (38-149 degrees C)). The water is used to vaporize a second fluid that has a much lower boiling point than water. The vapor from this second fluid is then used to drive the turbines to produce electricity. California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah currently have operating geothermal power plants. Estimated subterranean temperatures at a depth of 6 kilometers. Geothermal heat pumps are used for space heating and cooling as well as water heating, for residential and commercial applications. The technology relies on the fact that beneath the surface, the Earth remains at a relatively constant temperature throughout the year, warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler in the summer. A geothermal heat pump takes advantage of this by transferring heat, stored in the ground, into a building during the winter, and transferring it out of the building and back into the ground during the summer. The heat pump consists of a series of pipes, buried in the ground near a building to be conditioned or where water is to be heated. Fluid is circulated through the pipes to either absorb heat from the ground or distribute heat to the ground. Geothermal heat pumps can be used in most areas of the United States. While geothermal energy use is efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly, it currently meets less than 1% of U.S. power needs. back to top Biomass Power McNeil Generating Station, Burlington, Vermont, the country's only utility-owned and operated wood-fired power plant. Biomass power is power obtained from the energy in plants and plant-derived materials, such as food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. Biomass power provides two valuable services: it is the second most important source of renewable energy in the United States and it is an important part of our waste management infrastructure. In the future, farms cultivating high-yielding energy crops (such as trees and grasses) will significantly expand our supply of biomass. These energy crops, coupled with high-efficiency conversion technologies, can supplement our consumption of fossil fuels and help us respond to global climate change concerns. Wood has been used for energy longer than any other biomass source and today is still the largest biomass energy resource. The largest source of energy from wood is pulping liquor or "black liquor," a waste product from processes of the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry. Biomass energy can also be derived from waste and from alcohol fuels. Waste energy is the second-largest source of biomass energy. The main contributors of waste energy are municipal solid waste, manufacturing waste, and landfill gas. Biomass can be used for direct heating (such as burning wood in a fireplace or wood stove), for generating electricity, or can be converted directly into liquid fuels to meet transportation energy needs. Truck unloading wood chips that will fuel the Tracy Biomas Plant, Tracy, California. Electricity generated from biomass is also called biopower. Biopower facilities use many different technologies; the most common is burning of wood or other biomass feedstocks to produce steam which then is used to drive turbines and produce electricity. Some generators use a mix of biomass and fossil fuels to generate electricity, while others burn methane, a product of the natural decay of organic materials. In the United States, the pulp and paper industries are major producers of biopower, using residues from paper production to produce electricity for industrial plant use. Biomass power is close to a carbon-neutral electric power generation option — biomass absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during its growth and then emits an equal amount of carbon dioxide when it is processed to generate electricity. Thus, biomass fuels "recycle" atmospheric carbon, and may reduce global warming impacts. Biopower facilities produce fewer other pollutants than equivalent fossil fuel power facilities. Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from plants. The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is an alcohol, the same as in beer and wine. It is made by fermenting any biomass high in carbohydrates through a process similar to beer brewing. The majority of ethanol produced in the United States is made from corn. Current research is exploring ways to efficiently convert cellulose (agricultural waste, forest residue, municipal solid waste, and energy crops) to ethanol. Ethanol is mostly used as a fuel additive for vehicles to increase octane and cut down carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions. Biodiesel is made by processing vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease with alcohol or other chemicals. It can be used as an additive (typically 20%) to reduce vehicle emissions or in its pure form as a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines. Biomass and biofuels resource potential in the conterminous United States. Because biomass power is produced from plant sources, it can potentially be produced almost anywhere in the United States. While biomass is a renewable energy resource, it can have both negative and positive environmental impacts. It may reduce emissions and pollutants, but factory farming of biomass crops can reduce biodiversity and negatively impact wildlife habitat. Municipal solid waste may contain toxins which could cause pollution if it is used as a biomass feedstock. As with other renewable resources, use of appropriate technology will promote the most positive environmental impacts. back to top