In total, there are 16,472 electric generating units larger than 1 MW, which have a combined capacity of 1,066,317 MW (as of November 2015). I like this because it really demonstrates the regional geographies of electricity generation that shape the other factors covered in the rest of this article. Operating utility-scale generating units as of September 2015įirst off is a relatively new map from EIA that shows all operating large power plants in the country. electric grid and hint at the many challenges of transitioning the grid to new fuels. Below are some of my favorite maps that illustrate the extreme complexity of the U.S. No one map can display everything about our grid, but geography is key to understanding the diversity of resource mixes, regulatory regimes, and policies across the country. When I first started doing energy analysis, maps were key to learning how our system works. Making an image about something as abstract as regulatory change is difficult, which is why I often turn to maps when thinking about electricity. I’m a visual learner so when trying to think about a lot of these changes, I visualize them. All of these changes can be hard to conceptualize, particularly when trying to make sense of how multiple factors interact with each other. Electricity in the United States is going through massive changes: the generation mix is shifting rapidly, regulatory and industry models are evolving, and policy is playing an ever important role.
