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by spangry 3356 days ago
I certainly wouldn't count America out. However, looking at the numbers in terms of growth, there's been a pretty steady downward trend since (an unusually high) 2010 Q3: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=dmxz

Although the very last recorded quarter could be the start of a trend reversal... Regardless, you're correct on your original point: a reduction in energy usage would not be due to an output decline in manufacturing (which is the most energy intensive sector in most modern economies).
1 comments
tyingq 3356 days ago
>a reduction in energy usage would not be due to an output decline in manufacturing

I'd like to understand this. How is there zero correlation between energy use and manufacturing output?

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spangry 3356 days ago
That's not what I meant to say. Sorry, reading back on what I wrote I can see my wording was a bit ambiguous. They are definitely positively correlated.

The chart shows that from about 2010 onward, manufacturing output has been growing, but at a steadily declining (but still positive) rate. So manufacturing output was still growing until it hit zero growth in 2014 and started crawling along the floor, roughly at a steady-state.

So between 2010 and 2014, manufacturing should have been consuming more electricity (in absolute terms) from one year to the next. I suppose if manufacturing became less energy intensive per unit of output over that period then they could have contributed to reduced energy usage. Since I'm just some random internet dude reading a chart (who doesn't live in the US) I have no idea if that's the case.

Um, you wouldn't happen to know by any chance? :)

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tyingq 3356 days ago
Heh, no.

I'm still skeptical. Basically wondering if "Manufacturing Sector: Real Output" is somehow "dollar driven" vs "actual number of electric consuming plants" driven.

Of course, I can't find any good statistics on that. Something like this: http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/apr/23/... but with more detail. Because that could just be consolidation into smaller numbers of larger plants.

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Spooky23 3356 days ago
Government has been targeting industrial users heavily for the last decade. If you have spinning machines or industrial scale use, you will attract investment to reduce load, and very substantial investment if you allow the utility to shed your load (i.e. Turn stuff off) turning peak periods.
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