Environmental Exposures and Lender Concerns
Energy Issues (cont.)
• A significant topic in states already allowing cultivation is the energy
impact of cultivation.
•
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council ("NPCC") states that
regional demand from marijuana producers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon
and Washington could reach almost 250 MW by 2035.
2000-3000 Kilowatt hours of energy per pound of product. (NPCC)
The publication Utility Dive quotes Mr. Pete Rumsey, Executive Vice
President of Business Development at Lighting Science, who states:
Cannabis is one of the most energy-intensive industries
in the world. Statistics show that one percent of all
electricity used in the United States today is used by
indoor marijuana growers, to the tune of almost $6 billion
annually.
The same publication notes that growing four mature marijuana plants
consume about as much power as running 29 refrigerators around the
clock.
Utilities are having to address major increases in loads in some areas.
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