Energizing Illinois
Mark Green
Posted September 27, 2016
In the heart of the U.S. industrial and agricultural belt, Illinois’ significant energy contribution is its infrastructure. The state hosts four crude oil refineries with a capacity of more than 962,000 barrels per day, making Illinois the largest refining state in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The state ranked fourth in the U.S. in refining as of January 2015.
Click on the thumbnail to view a two-page energy infographic for the Prairie State.
As a refining hub, Illinois also is crisscrossed by pipelines – eight crude oil pipelines and nine petroleum product pipelines (as well as more than a dozen interstate natural gas pipelines), EIA says. It takes the complete picture – available resources and supporting infrastructure – for the U.S. to fully harness the benefits of its energy abundance by delivering energy to the homes and businesses that need it.
As an energy consumer, Illinois used more natural gas than any other energy source in 2014, EIA reports. Natural gas accounted for 24 percent of the state’s overall energy use. Nuclear electric power (22.4 percent) and coal (22.2 percent) were close behind. Nuclear (51 percent) is the state’s leading fuel for electricity generation.
The United States is the world leader in oil and natural gas production – and it also possesses world-class pipeline and refining infrastructure, such as those in Illinois. To fully benefit from our energy wealth, we need more energy infrastructure to ensure that all parts of the country are helped by our domestic energy renaissance.
Pursuing infrastructure construction is one of a set of pro-development policies that will help expand the economy, grow jobs and benefit consumers. Page 2 of the infographic features a chart showing how these benefits and more will increase with pro-energy policies.
Energy is essential for virtually every aspect of our daily lives. It powers national, state and local economies, gets us to work and goes into products we rely on for health and comfort. Safe, responsible energy development here at home is linked to national security as well as Americans’ individual prosperity and liberty – in Illinois and all the 50 states of energy.
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.