Energy.gov

Back in October, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) launched the beta version of its state energy portal. Last week, I had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the latest additions to the site, and EIA has built a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the U.S. energy industry.

First, if you are looking for information on how to use this site, I recommend watching the intro video. Done? Good.

Here are a few features you should check out:

• The state pages gather together key facts, Today In Energy articles, EIA data, a detailed energy profile, and an interactive map to provide a complete picture of the energy economy in that state. Check out Pennsylvania, for example.
• I love the compare tool, where you can compare a number of key energy statistics across any number of states. I’ve selected Alabama, Connecticut and Pennsylvania in my example.
• The rankings tool provides a ranking by state for a number of energy statistics, and is very useful for understanding how your state fits in to the U.S. energy economy.
• Each state profile has an interactive map that allows you to explore generation facilities, energy resources (coal, oil, and gas deposits and renewable energy potential), and other features of our energy infrastructure. The map also features a full-screen version that includes layer toggles and additional data.
• EIA has assembled a list of other resources, such as state energy agencies, industrial associations, and relevant Federal programs.
• Finally, EIA has built an extensive data browser and search tool, if you are looking for something specific, or if you just want to see what they have available.

For developers, EIA has made its State Energy Data System estimates available via its API, along with the electricity data that is already available there, and downloadable geographic data is coming soon.

The state pages are still under construction and a full launch is planned, but don’t wait! Whether you are an experience energy analyst or just interested in where your electricity comes from, EIA’s state portal just might have what you’re looking for.