Regan Brown
Fossil fuels have dominated the US energy mix for over a century, but this has started to change in recent years. In 2017, fossil fuels accounted for 77.6% of US primary energy production, and in 2018, they fed about 80% of the nation's energy demand. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 75% of US energy production, with natural gas and crude oil making up 64.3% of this. However, renewable energy sources are growing, and the US has joined 132 other countries in committing to tripling the world's installed renewable energy generation capacity by 2030.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of total U.S. primary energy production by fossil fuels in 2023 | 84% |
| Percentage of total U.S. primary energy production by fossil fuels in 2018 | 80% |
| Percentage of U.S. electricity generated from fossil fuels in 2023 | 60% |
| U.S. fossil fuel consumption in 2023 | 4.18 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) |
| Percentage of U.S. energy consumption by petroleum in 2023 | 38% |
| U.S. ranking in global fossil fuel production in 2018 | 1st |
| Percentage of U.S. energy consumption by petroleum in 1978 | 49% |
| Percentage of U.S. energy consumption by fossil fuels in the 1970s | 84% |
| Percentage of U.S. per capita energy use from fossil fuels in 2018 | 309.3 million Btu |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels account for 60-84% of US energy production
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have long been the primary energy source for the United States. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production, with petroleum, natural gas, and coal being the main sources. This percentage has decreased slightly over the years, with fossil fuels accounting for about 80% of the nation's energy demand in 2018, and 60% of electricity generation in 2023.
The US has been the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas, with dramatic increases in domestic production driven by new technologies such as fracking and horizontal drilling. However, coal production has been on a downward trend since its peak in 2008. While fossil fuels have dominated the US energy mix for over a century, there has been a growing shift towards renewable energy sources.
The US has seen a rapid increase in the use of solar and wind power over the past decade, although these sources still account for a small percentage of the country's total energy usage. In 2018, renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power, contributed to less than 4% of the country's total energy usage. Despite this, the potential for renewable energy remains significant, with falling prices and technological advancements making it an increasingly attractive option.
The transition to renewable energy sources is crucial in addressing climate change and air pollution. Fossil fuels are the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Air pollution from fossil fuels has caused significant health and economic impacts, with an estimated $2.9 trillion in costs in 2018 alone.
As public concern about climate change grows, there is a pressing need to reduce emissions and transition to clean energy sources. While fossil fuels continue to dominate global energy production, accounting for more than 80% of energy production worldwide, it is essential to invest in and promote alternative, renewable energy sources to meet sustainability goals and reduce the negative impacts of fossil fuel consumption.
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Natural gas is the top energy source
Fossil fuels have dominated the US energy mix for over a century, but the mix has changed over time. Petroleum, natural gas, and coal accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production in 2023. Natural gas is the largest source of energy production in the United States. In 2016, it accounted for 33% of all energy produced in the country. Natural gas has been the largest source of electrical generation in the United States since July 2015.
Natural gas is a major energy source for US commercial buildings. It is used to generate electricity and heat spaces. The industrial and commercial sectors use natural gas to generate electricity, which they then use almost entirely. In 2023, the industrial sector accounted for about 32% of total US natural gas consumption, and about 42% of the US industrial sector's end-use energy consumption was natural gas. The residential sector accounted for about 14% of total US natural gas consumption, and about 41% of US residential sector end-use energy consumption was natural gas. In 2023, the electric power sector accounted for about 40% of total US natural gas consumption, and about 42% of the US electric power sector's primary energy consumption was natural gas.
Natural gas consumption has increased both in amount and share of US energy consumption. In 1950, natural gas consumption was about 18% of total US primary energy consumption, and in 2023, it was about 36%. Natural gas consumption in the US was about 33.61 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2023, which was about 36% of US total primary energy consumption.
The increased use of natural gas for electricity is driven by three factors. Firstly, pressure on utilities to decrease greenhouse gas emissions has favored the substitution of coal generation with natural gas generation, which has significantly fewer life-cycle GHG emissions. Secondly, gas power plants can ramp up and down quickly, making them well-suited to complement intermittent power sources such as wind and solar. Thirdly, since late 2008, the price of natural gas has been relatively cheap on the North American market, especially compared to oil.
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Crude oil is the second-highest energy source
Fossil fuels have dominated the US energy mix for over a century. In 2023, fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production. Crude oil, a fossil fuel, is the second-highest energy source in the US.
Crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel that is extracted from the earth. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons, mainly alkanes, and other organic compounds, and it is a crucial energy source for the US. In 2023, the US produced a record-breaking amount of crude oil, averaging 12.9 million barrels per day, surpassing the previous record of 12.3 million barrels per day set in 2019. This exceptional production level solidified the US's position as the world's top crude oil producer, surpassing countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia.
The US has consistently produced more crude oil than any other country in recent years. In 2022, the US produced 1.3 million barrels per day more than Saudi Arabia, the second-largest producer. This trend continued into 2023, with US crude oil production capacity exceeding that of Saudi Arabia's state-owned company, Saudi Aramco.
Crude oil's prominence as an energy source in the US is further highlighted by its contribution to the country's total energy production. In 2018, crude oil accounted for nearly a quarter of all US energy production, showcasing its significance in meeting the country's vast energy demands.
While there has been a push for alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, fossil fuels continue to dominate the US energy landscape. Crude oil, as the second-highest energy source, plays a pivotal role in this dynamic, powering various sectors and contributing significantly to the country's energy security and economic growth.
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Coal is the third-highest energy source
Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for about 84% of total U.S. primary energy production in 2023. The United States uses a lot of energy, second only to China. In 2018, the total amount of energy used in the U.S. hit 101.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), the highest level since data collection began in 1949.
In 2023, about 4,178 billion kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity were generated at utility-scale electricity generation facilities in the United States. About 60% of this electricity generation was from fossil fuels, with coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases as the main sources.
Among these fossil fuels, coal is the third-highest energy source in the United States. While coal has declined precipitously since its peak in 2008, when nearly 1.2 billion tons were mined, it still plays a significant role in the country's energy mix. In 2018, nearly 93% of U.S. coal was used to generate electricity, according to EIA data.
Coal, along with oil and gas, has been the primary energy source in the United States for many years. However, there is a growing trend towards renewable energy sources. In 2018, solar and wind power accounted for less than 4% of all the energy used in the U.S., but their use has been rapidly increasing over the past decade.
The transition to renewable energy sources is crucial in addressing climate change and reducing air pollution. Fossil fuels, such as coal, are the largest contributors to global climate change, producing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions when burned. While coal has been a significant energy source for the United States, the shift towards cleaner and more sustainable options is necessary to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
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Petroleum is the primary energy source for the transportation sector
Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production in 2023. In 2023, petroleum products accounted for about 89% of the total US transportation sector energy use.
Petroleum is the dominant transportation fuel in the United States. Gasoline, including motor gasoline and aviation gasoline, is the most used transportation fuel, accounting for 52% of total energy consumption by the US transportation sector in 2022. Distillate fuels, mostly diesel fuel, accounted for 23%, and jet fuel accounted for 12%.
Petroleum products made from crude oil and natural gas processing are used in various modes of transportation. Motor gasoline is used in cars, motorcycles, light trucks, and boats. Aviation gasoline is used in many types of aeroplanes. Distillate fuels are used mainly by trucks, buses, and trains and in boats and ships. Jet fuel is used in jet aeroplanes and some types of helicopters. Residual fuel oil is used in ships.
The use of petroleum in the transportation sector has been relatively stable, but the growth in oil demand is attributed to the increasing transportation demand. Petroleum products are favoured over alternative energy sources in the transportation sector due to their higher competitive advantage. However, the share of oil used in the transportation sector is steadily declining with the introduction of alternative sources such as electric cars.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production in 2023.
Fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas.
In 2018, the total amount of energy used in the US hit 101.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), the highest level since data collection began in 1949.
Fossil fuels have dominated the US energy mix for more than 100 years, but renewable energy sources are growing fast.
