Your electricity comes from a mix of energy sources

As the debate again ratchets up over climate change legislation, there’s an important question worth considering: Do you know where your energy comes from?

Some people do not realize our nation’s electricity is generated from a combination of energy sources to meet our high electricity demand.

Each state has its own energy portfolio that is determined by location and natural resources.

While coal accounts for nearly 50 percent of our electricity, many other energy sources are used in combination to provide the power you rely on.

Here are some of the fuels we use:

•Coal: Coal generates electricity at one-third to one-quarter the cost of other fuels. States such as Wyoming, West Virginia and Kentucky generate the majority of their electricity from coal, which helps keep household utility costs low.

According to an electric power industry journal, 23 of the 25 power plants in the U.S. that have the lowest operating costs (therefore providing power to their consumers at the lowest price) are powered by coal. And coal is here to stay: the U.S. has more coal than the Middle East has oil.

•Natural gas: Natural gas is another fossil fuel that is widely used to make electricity. However, it is almost triple the cost of coal.

•Petroleum liquids: Generating energy from petroleum liquids is expensive, which is why it’s not widely used for electricity.

•Hydroelectric: Energy from hydropower is a low-cost option. However, many states are not located in the right geographic areas for this kind of electricity generation.

•Renewables: Solar and wind produce electricity only when there’s sufficient direct sunlight or sustained wind speed.

Find out where electricity in your state comes from on our interactive map.