Regan Brown
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the dominant energy source globally since the Industrial Revolution. However, the burning of these fuels has severe environmental and health impacts, including contributing to global warming and causing air pollution, which is linked to millions of premature deaths annually. While low-carbon energy sources are becoming more available, fossil fuels still meet a large portion of energy demands in many countries, including the United States. This text will explore the consumption and impact of fossil fuels in each US state, providing insights into the transition away from these fuels.
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuel consumption in the US by sector
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have long been a dominant energy source in the US. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 84% of total energy production, with 38% of the nation's energy originating from petroleum, 36% from natural gas, and 9% from coal.
Fossil Fuel Consumption by Sector
Transportation
The transportation sector is a major consumer of fossil fuels, particularly petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline and diesel. In 2020, the transportation sector accounted for about 68% of total petroleum consumption. Overall, over 94% of the fuel used in this sector is derived from petroleum. The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions due to the burning of fossil fuels.
Electric Power
The electric power sector is another significant contributor to fossil fuel consumption. In 2020, this sector consumed about 90% of total coal consumption and 38% of total natural gas consumption for electricity generation and heating. While the use of coal in this sector has been declining, natural gas has become the most common fuel type for electricity generation. In 2023, the electric power sector accounted for about 96% of total US energy consumption.
Commercial and Residential
The commercial and residential sector also contributes to fossil fuel consumption, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels for heating and cooling. Natural gas is widely used in this sector, and inventories have been increasing due to milder weather, resulting in reduced consumption.
Industry
The industrial sector is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well as emissions from certain chemical reactions necessary for producing goods from raw materials. If indirect emissions from electricity use are included, industrial activities account for a much larger share of US greenhouse gas emissions.
Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted fossil fuel consumption in the US. In 2020, total fossil fuel consumption fell by 9%, the lowest level in nearly 30 years. This decrease was driven by a 15% reduction in the energy consumption of the transportation sector due to travel restrictions and a decrease in economic activity.
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Fossil fuel consumption by state
Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production in 2023. In terms of fossil fuel consumption by US state, natural gas is consumed across every sector, with the electric power sector accounting for a record-high 38% of total natural gas consumption in 2020. Over 80% of the fossil fuel energy directly consumed in the residential and commercial sectors is natural gas, which is mostly used for space heating. In 2020, natural gas accounted for 43% of US fossil fuel consumption, the largest annual share on record.
Coal is the second most consumed fossil fuel in the US. In 2020, coal accounted for 13% of US fossil fuel consumption, the lowest annual share since 1949. The electric power sector consumed about 90% of the total coal consumption in 2020. Coal used for electricity generation has steadily declined over the past decade, although there are predictions that consumption will increase.
The transportation sector in the US is heavily reliant on petroleum, with petroleum providing about 89% of the sector's primary energy consumption in 2023. Oil is refined into petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Oil and natural gas are also used as feedstocks in the petrochemical industry and are the building blocks for a variety of products such as plastics.
Nonfuel use of fossil fuels accounted for about 8% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020. Fossil fuels can be consumed without being burned when they are used directly as construction materials, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, solvents, and waxes.
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Fossil fuel consumption by type
Fossil fuels are essential in meeting the energy and electricity demands of many countries, including the United States. The three main types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. In 2020, the total consumption of fossil fuels in the US fell to 72.9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), the lowest level since 1991. This decrease was driven by the economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a 15% reduction in the energy consumption of the transportation sector.
Natural gas accounted for 43% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the largest annual share on record. It is used in every sector, but the electric power sector accounted for a record-high 38% of total natural gas consumption for electricity generation and heating. Over 80% of fossil fuel energy directly consumed in the residential and commercial sectors is natural gas, primarily for space heating.
Coal, the first fuel exploited by humans for energy on a large scale, accounted for 13% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the lowest annual share since 1949. The electric power sector consumed about 90% of the total coal consumption for electricity generation and heating. However, coal used for electricity generation has been steadily declining, and it is expected to increase this year.
Oil, predominantly used in the transportation sector as petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, is another primary energy source in the US. It also serves as a feedstock in the petrochemical industry for producing plastics.
Nonfuel use of fossil fuels, such as when they are used directly as construction materials, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, solvents, and waxes, accounted for about 8% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020.
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Fossil fuel consumption trends over time
Fossil fuel consumption has been a significant source of energy in the United States, with petroleum, natural gas, and coal being the primary energy sources. However, the consumption trends have varied over time, influenced by various factors such as economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, weather conditions, and the availability of low-carbon energy sources.
In 2020, the United States experienced a notable 9% decrease in fossil fuel consumption, reaching the lowest level in nearly 30 years. This reduction was driven primarily by a 15% decrease in the energy consumption of the transportation sector and warmer weather, which reduced the demand for heating fuels. Coal consumption also witnessed its lowest annual share since 1949, with a significant 19% decline from 2019 to 2020.
The years leading up to 2018 showed an upward trend in fossil fuel consumption, with a peak of 81.28 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2018. In 2022, net electricity generation from fossil fuels amounted to 4,243 terawatt-hours, with natural gas and coal collectively accounting for 60% of all power production in the country.
While the consumption of coal has been declining in many parts of the world, oil and natural gas consumption have continued to grow. In 2023, fossil fuel consumption in the United States reached approximately 77.2 quadrillion Btu, a 1.7% decrease from the previous year. This decrease can be attributed to the increasing adoption of low-carbon energy sources, such as nuclear energy, and the scrutiny the fossil fuel industry faces due to its environmental impact.
Despite the overall decline in fossil fuel consumption in the United States, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels globally reached record levels in 2023. This rise in emissions is impeding progress toward limiting global warming and climate change. The largest increases in emissions in 2023 were observed in India and China, highlighting the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels in certain regions.
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The impact of COVID-19 on fossil fuel consumption
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally. The enforced confinement and economic disruptions led to a sharp drop in energy use and carbon emissions. According to Le Quéré et al. (2020), there was a 17% decline in daily global CO2 emissions by early April 2020 compared to 2019 levels. Similarly, Liu et al. (2020) reported a 7.8% decrease in global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use in the first quarter of 2020 relative to the same period in 2019.
The pandemic's effect on the global economy and energy consumption varied across countries. Smith et al. (2021) used a global vector autoregressive (GVAR) model to assess the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on fossil fuel consumption and found that it led to a decrease in energy consumption in major carbon-emitting countries. Han et al. (2021) estimated a reduction in CO2 emissions of 257.7 in China for the same period. The outbreak disrupted the global supply chain, amplifying the negative economic effects across countries.
The demand for fossil fuels decreased by almost 10% during the pandemic, and the industry faced significant challenges. Natural gas prices dropped so low that producers were burning it off on-site instead of transporting it to cracking facilities. Many cracking facilities in the USA were suspended. The pandemic also influenced investor behaviour, with investors penalizing high-polluting firms more heavily while showing no negative impact on low-polluting firms. This shift in investor sentiment provides an opportunity for firms to reduce their carbon emissions and maintain investor confidence.
Despite the initial reductions in fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, forecasts predict that consumption and emissions will return to pre-crisis levels within two years of the outbreak, even if another pandemic wave occurs. The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of fossil fuels to storage and distribution problems. It has also prompted discussions about accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources and boosting energy resilience. The stimulus package directed towards long-term recovery and green initiatives demonstrates a global commitment to addressing these issues.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, the US consumed approximately 77.2 quadrillion British thermal units of energy from fossil fuels.
The primary fossil fuels burned in the US are petroleum, natural gas, and coal.
In 2020, the US consumed 72.9 quadrillion British thermal units of fossil fuels, a 9% decrease from 2019 and the lowest level since 1991.
The transportation sector consumes the most fossil fuels in the US, with petroleum-based fuels accounting for over 94% of the sector's energy consumption.
