Where does WA state rank when it comes to clean energy? Take this quiz to find out

The optimistic end to COP26, the international climate summit recently held in Glasgow, Scotland, belies the fact that here at the beginning of 2022, global energy has hit some major road bumps. Given this new reality, the following energy quiz should be revealing. The answers are given at the end.

Zero to three correct answers means you may need to read up on energy in order not to be at its mercy. Four to six correct answers is a good passing grade. Seven to ten right answers means you’re really energy-literate. Eleven to fourteen right answers means You should be advising the Governor.

1) What country will emit the most carbon in 2022?

a. India b. Brazil c. United States d. China

2) Which source will produce more energy in America in 2022?

a. wind b. natural gas c. hydroelectric d. oil e. nuclear

3) Which piece of legislation in history has arguably saved the most lives?

a. The Clean Air Act b. The Highway Safety Act c. Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act d. The Clean Water Act

4) What energy source has the biggest deathprint (kills the most people per kiloWatt-hour produced)?

a. coal b. natural gas c. nuclear d. wind

5) What energy source has the smallest deathprint (kills the least people per kilowatt-hour produced)?

a. coal b. natural gas c. nuclear d. wind

6) Which state has the lowest carbon footprint, primarily because of their energy mix?

a. Vermont b. California c. Washington d. Oregon

7) Which country will build the most nuclear power plants in 2022?

a. Russia b. South Korea c. China d. United States

8) Which country has the most fossil fuel in the ground?

a. Saudi Arabia b. Russia c. United States d. China

9) What subjects someone to the most radiation?

a) standing next to a nuclear power plant b) flying across country ten times a year c) eating a 6 oz bag of potato chips every day d) living in Guarapari, Brazil

10) What subjects someone to the least radiation?

a. standing next to a nuclear power plant b. flying across country ten times a year c. eating a 6 oz bag of potato chips every day d. living in Guarapari, Brazil

11) There are over 80,000 dams along rivers in the United States. How many are equipped to produce power?

a. 1% b. 3% c. 15% d. 30%

12) What is the biggest power plant in the United States (produces the most power)?

a. Grand Coulee Dam b. Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station c. Scherer Coal-fired Power Plant d. Topaz Solar Farm

13) What kills the least number of people each year?

a. crossing the street b. nuclear waste in dry cask storage c. food poisoning d. being a dietitian

14) What is the single largest electricity-producing physiographic feature in the world that humans tap into?

a. the Mediterranean Sea b. the Yangtze River c. Earth’s atmosphere d. heated parts of Earth’s crust

Answer Key

1) d. China, about twice that of the U.S. 2) d. oil (energy not just electricity) 3) a. The Clean Air Act 4) a. coal 5) c. nuclear 6) c. Washington 7) c. China 8) c. United States 9) d. potato chips 10) a. standing next to a nuclear power plant 11) b. 3% but many many more could be powered 12) Palo Verde produces 30 billion kWhs/yr; the Grand Coulee Hydroelectric Dam, with a higher nameplate capacity, only produces about 20 billion kWhs/yr and comes in 5th place behind four nuclear plants. 13) b. nuclear waste in dry cask storage – no one has ever died in history from nuclear waste in dry cask or in fuel pools, but about 5,000 people a year die crossing the street 14) b. the Yangtze River – in 2022 the almost 100,000 MW of hydroelectric dams along its length will generate about 500 billion kWh (the equivalent of fifty 1,000 MW nuclear plants) or about 4% of the world’s total electricity production - only eight countries in the world produce more energy than this single river.

Have a Wonderful and Happy 2022!

This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 11:41 AM.