'); } -->
Idahoans last year spent $3.6 billion for oil, natural gas and coal — $2,355 per person, the Seattle-based Sightline Institute reported Wednesday.
That compares with $487 per person in 1998 adjusted for inflation, said Clark Williams-Derry, chief researcher with the institute, in its Cascadia Scorecard Report, an annual progress report.
“Of course, not all of that spending was by households — there's a lot of fuel used by businesses and industry,” Williams-Derry said. “But it's a sign that fossil fuel spending has had a huge impact on the state's economic well-being.”
All of that spending represents money that left the state’s economy, the institute said.
But Idaho’s gasoline consumption dropped dramatically in 2008. Idahoans used about 7.4 gallons of gas per person each week in 2008, Williams-Derry said. That was down from about 9.2 weekly gallons of gas per capita in 1998.
Idahoans haven't used so little gasoline since 1963, measured per capita, he said. The combined total for all three Northwest states, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho was a record $29.5 billion on fossil fuel imports in 2008.
•••
Rocky Barker: 377-6484
Story Comments
We welcome comments but ask that you remain on topic. Some comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. Comments that are profane, personal attacks or otherwise inappropriate or are off topic are subject to removal. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Do not flag comments merely because you disagree with the comment.