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Study: 1% of U.S. energy consumption used for indoor pot grows


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By Colin Sullivan, New York Times

Indoor marijuana cultivation consumes enough electricity to power 2 million average-sized U.S. homes, which corresponds to about 1 percent of national power consumption, according to a study by a staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Researcher Evan Mills’ study notes that cannabis production has largely shifted indoors, especially in California, where medical marijuana growers use high-intensity lights usually reserved for operating rooms that are 500 times more powerful that a standard reading lamp.

The resulting price tag is about $5 billion in annual electricity costs, said Mills, who conducted and published the research independently from the Berkeley lab. The resulting contribution to greenhouse gas emissions equals about 3 million cars on the road, he said.

Narrowing the implications even further reveals some staggering numbers. Mills said a single marijuana cigarette represents 2 pounds of CO2 emissions, an amount equal to running a 100-watt light bulb for 17 hours.

The resulting price tag is about $5 billion in annual electricity costs, said Mills, who conducted and published the research independently from the Berkeley lab. The resulting contribution to greenhouse gas emissions equals about 3 million cars on the road, he said.

Narrowing the implications even further reveals some staggering numbers. Mills said a single marijuana cigarette represents 2 pounds of CO2 emissions, an amount equal to running a 100-watt light bulb for 17 hours.

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Comments (2)
  1. Pinetree says - Posted: April 20, 2011

    Our city council should consider this before passing a growing ordinance. Possibly the permit issued to grow in a residence should also include fees for the C02 emissions, the increased costs to all energy consumers and the TRPA should also include a fee to protect our lake.

  2. the conservation robot says - Posted: April 21, 2011

    “that are 500 times more powerful that a standard reading lamp.”
    That would make the standard reading lamp under 10 watts.
    I doubt this study.