Energy Lesson 2 : Michigan's Energy Resource Mix

Energy resources can be categorized as renewable or nonrenewable. Renewable energy resources like wood, wind, and water are “renewable” in that natural processes can replenish them within a human’s lifespan.

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas were created by natural processes over millions of years and are nonrenewable in a human lifespan. Nuclear energy is more complicated—rocks in the earth’s crust naturally contain uranium, but it requires energy to enrich it, turning it into usable radioactive plutonium for power reactors. Most of the natural gas we use today comes from non-renewable deposits; a very small amount is produced from renewable biomass. We can also use digesters to turn organic materials (plants, animal wastes, etc.) into natural gas. When we remove fossil fuels from the ground and burn them to obtain energy, millions of years are required to replace them.

What kinds of energy do we use in Michigan and where do we get the energy resources? We use renewable and non-renewable energy resources in Michigan, although most of the energy resources we use are non-renewable resources like petroleum products (oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, etc.), coal, uranium, and natural gas. Renewable energy resources such as hydroelectric, wind, sun, geothermal, and biomass are also used. Additional background information about renewable and non-renewable resources is provided with Lessons 4 and 5.

Although Michigan has some reserves of oil, natural gas, and renewable resources such as the sun, wind, water, and biomass, most of the energy resources used in Michigan come from other states and countries. For example, natural gas produced in Michigan represents only about 25% of the total natural gas consumed in Michigan. Natural gas is the most common energy source for home heating in Michigan (about 78% of homes use it as their primary fuel) and is used to produce about 13% of the electricity generated in Michigan (Michigan Public Service Commission).

How are energy resources transported? A network of millions of miles of pipelines transports natural gas from its natural sources to processing facilities and then to our homes. Coal is transported by boat, rail, or truck to power plants where it is burned to generate electricity. Uranium ore is transported to facilities that make fuel rods for nuclear reactors.These rods are then transported to power plants where they are used to generate electricity. Petroleum is transported in Michigan most often by pipeline or truck. Renewable resources like the sun, wind, and water are used to generate electricity or do work at their source and do not require transportation. Biomass may be transported by truck or train, but is often used at or near its source for heating or producing electricity.

Most energy sources can be used to generate electricity. Electricity is an inexpensive and efficient way to transport energy to our homes. Electricity is brought to our homes through a system of high voltage transmission lines. Electricity generation, transmission, and distribution are covered in more detail in Lesson 3.