ENERGY (Cannabis)
ENERGY (Cannabis)
As more states legalize cannabis for medical and adult-use purposes, the industry's energy demands have grown, with cannabis cultivation and processing taking the lead. Consuming the lion's share of energy Regrettably, managing. The goal of satisfying the industry's energy appetite has proven difficult. primarily due to a scarcity of historical data in the business Legal cannabis cultivation consumes a lot of energy. Because of this, As markets continue to expand, it is vital that states keep up with them. track, control, and reduce the energy intensity of the industry energy efficiency and sustainable energy measures have a significant influence. cannabis
Indoor Cultivation is Driven by Regulations Despite the fact that a growing number of states have legalized adult-use cannabis in recent years, indoor production has remained the favored or mandatory method, as many states do not allow outdoor cultivation. This is due in part to the fact that controlled indoor conditions (such as greenhouses and windowless warehouse production centers) give cultivators the most control over their facility's operations and allow producers to produce and harvest crops all year. According to a 2016 survey, 63 percent of commercial cannabis growing takes place entirely indoors, with 20 percent taking place in greenhouses. 83 Energy expenditures account for thirty to sixty percent (30-60%) of overall operating expenses for these facilities. 84 The 2018 Cannabis Energy Report estimated that legal cannabis growing in the United States consumes 1.1 million megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, the equivalent of 92,500 residences, based on self-reported cultivation data from eighty-one cultivators representing a statistical sample of licensees. cannabis
Growing techniques have changed as legal production has increased, and research reveals that commercial growth methods can achieve significantly greater energy performance than illicit cultivation methods. Nonetheless, in order to scale in line with states' renewable energy, energy efficiency, and total emissions reductions goals, the ever-expanding business requires continuing and sustained improvements in energy use and efficiency. Popular methods include vertical stacking, mobile racking, and automated temperature and humidity control, as well as commercial grade equipment like centralized HVAC systems with integrated dehumidification and cultivation methods like vertical stacking, mobile racking, and automated temperature and humidity control. Marijuana Business Daily. Between 2017 and 2022, forecasts show a 162 percent rise in electrical energy demand from cannabis growing as additional states legalize cannabis or open their medical markets to full adult-use. This significant increase is a strong hint that this burgeoning business should be taken into account in future energy planning and policies at the state, regional, and national levels. cannabis medical
CANNABIS' ENERGY EFFECTS It is vital that states address and effectively mitigate each of the following aspects as they plan for and implement policy to handle the industry's energy implications: Examine each of the following ramifications: 1. Cultivation facilities have a high demand for electricity.
enhancing grid resiliency and putting it to the test;
2. Generators that run on fossil fuels create greenhouse gases.
gases and other pollutants in the air, resulting in a
impact on ambient air quality (this influence is negative)
addressed in this paper's Air section);
3. Cultivation facilities are increasingly using renewable energy sources to run their operations off-grid, particularly in areas where grid access or grid reliability is unstable; 4. Energy use intensity of cultivation facilities is dependent on cultivation approach (outdoor, greenhouse, or indoor); and 5. Post-cultivation activities, such as manufacturing and transportation, also use renewable energy sources. cannabis
