Growing Marijuana Indoors Accounts for One Percent of U.S. Electricity Use
The quasi-legalization of marijuana has produced quite an unintended side effect: Now one percent of all electricity used in the United States is spent on growing cannabis indoors.
Analysis from Evan Mills at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory also found that in California, where marijuana can be grown legally for medicinal purposes, the state's 400,000 authorized growers consume an amazing three percent of all the state's electricity while conducting their business.
Growing marijuana indoors requires high wattage grow lights, and oftentimes air conditioning, humidity control and a ventilation system.
Mills estimates that this year authorized marijuana growers will use $5 billion worth of electricity and create 17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
Proving green is anything but green.