U.S. Consumption
by Region
Different regions exhibit different oil consumption patterns.
Population and regional economic activity are two important determinants, but
the traditional availability of alternative fuels, petroleum transportation,
geography, and a host of other factors are also important. The east coast
consumes the largest volume of oil of the five major regions of the country.
On a per capita basis, however, the East Coast, Midwest and the West
Coast consume about the same amount, and less than the two other regions, the
Gulf Coast and the Rockies.
The Gulf Coast,
the heart of the U.S.
petroleum industry, presents an interesting case, because more than 25% of the Gulf
Coast's "consumption" is not use of oil for energy
but rather as a feedstock to make petrochemicals, and finally petroleum-based
products such as a variety of plastics, polyurethane, and synthetic fibers.
The Rockies
are another interesting case: the sparsely populated region shows
low consumption on an absolute basis, but relatively high regional consumption
per capita; high use of transportation fuels to travel long distances makes the
difference.
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