Sylvie Willis
Fossil fuels have long been the primary source of energy in the United States, and they continue to dominate the country's energy mix. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for about 60% of electricity generation in the US, with natural gas as the largest source, providing 38% of the total. Despite a growing awareness of climate change and a push for renewable energy sources, fossil fuels remain prevalent, with the US government allocating billions in subsidies to the oil and gas industries. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels has significant environmental impacts and contributes to global climate change, air pollution, and hazardous waste. While renewable energy sources are growing, they still contribute a small percentage to the overall energy mix, and the US continues to face the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner energy future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of electricity generated from fossil fuels in 2023 | 60% |
| Percentage of electricity generated from fossil fuels in 2021 | 84% |
| Fossil fuel types | Coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases |
| Fossil fuels as a percentage of total US energy production in 2023 | 84% |
| Fossil fuels as a percentage of total US energy production in 2018 | 80% |
| Fossil fuels as a percentage of total US energy production in 1950 | 18% |
| Fossil fuels as a percentage of total US energy production in 2023 | 82% |
| Largest sources of carbon pollution from fossil fuels | Petroleum (46%), natural gas (35%), and coal (19%) |
| Fossil fuels' contribution to US carbon emissions in 2022 compared to 2020 | 8% increase |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels account for 60% of electricity generation
Fossil fuels—including coal, natural gas, and petroleum—have long been the primary source of energy in the United States. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production, and 60% of electricity generation. This equates to 2,509 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity.
The US is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of electricity, generating 15% of the global electricity supply. In 2021, the country produced 3,988 TWh of electricity, the majority of which came from fossil fuels. Natural gas provided the largest proportion at 38%, followed by coal at 23%, and petroleum at less than 1%.
The use of fossil fuels in the US has remained near 80% for the past 30 years. In 2023, the US consumed about 94 quadrillion British thermal units (quads or quadrillion Btu) of energy, with fossil fuels accounting for 84% of this consumption. Natural gas was the largest source of energy, making up 36% of production and 38% of electricity generation.
While fossil fuels continue to dominate the US energy mix, there is a growing trend towards renewable energy sources. In 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for about 21% of electricity generation, with solar and wind power experiencing rapid growth in recent years. However, fossil fuel subsidies, which totalled $760 billion in 2022, remain a roadblock to the transition to cleaner energy systems.
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Natural gas is the largest source of energy
Fossil fuels have long been the primary source of energy in the United States, accounting for 84% of total energy production and 60% of electric generation as of 2023. Natural gas, one of the fossil fuels, has emerged as the largest source of energy in the US in recent years. In 2021, dry natural gas accounted for 36% of the country's energy production, surpassing other fossil fuels like coal and petroleum. This trend continued in 2023, with natural gas consumption making up about 36% of total US primary energy consumption.
The rise of natural gas as a dominant energy source in the US can be traced back to the 1990s when its price was deregulated, leading to a parallel pricing trend with oil. However, starting in the late 2000s, an abundance of natural gas in North America caused its price to drop significantly compared to oil. This pricing advantage, coupled with efficient drilling and production techniques, contributed to a steady increase in natural gas production.
Natural gas has not only surpassed coal and petroleum in production but also in electricity generation. Since July 2015, natural gas has been the largest source of electrical generation in the US. In 2016, it overtook coal as the dominant source for electric generation, and by 2021, it accounted for 38% of electricity generation. This shift from coal to natural gas has had a positive environmental impact, as combined emissions from these sources have declined by 25% since their peak in 2008.
The industrial sector is the largest energy-consuming sector in the US, utilizing 33% of total energy in 2021. Within this sector, natural gas, electricity, and petroleum are the primary energy sources, with the chemical industry, petroleum and coal processing, mining, and paper industries as the largest energy users. Natural gas is predominantly used for process heating and boilers, contributing to the sector's energy requirements.
In summary, natural gas has become the largest source of energy in the US, surpassing coal and petroleum in both production and electricity generation. Its increasing production, competitive pricing, and environmental advantages have solidified its prominent role in the country's energy landscape.
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Petroleum is the largest source of carbon pollution
Fossil fuels have long been the predominant source of energy in the United States, accounting for 84% of total energy production and 60% of electricity generation as of 2023. While the use of fossil fuels has remained near 80% over the past three decades, the specific types of fossil fuels used have changed. Natural gas surpassed coal for production in 2011 and for generation in 2016, becoming the top fossil fuel in the US.
Despite the shift towards natural gas, petroleum remains a significant contributor to energy production and carbon emissions. In 2023, petroleum provided about 89% of the transportation sector's primary energy consumption. While it accounted for less than 1% of the electric power sector's primary energy consumption, petroleum was responsible for 46% of carbon pollution from energy sources. Motor gasoline and diesel were the largest contributors, at 21% and 12% respectively.
The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions and the second-largest source when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are included. Petroleum fuels, which include primarily gasoline and diesel, result in direct emissions. The near-complete dependence of the transportation sector on petroleum fuels makes it the largest emitter of CO2, despite the higher carbon content of coal and the larger proportion of electricity generation from natural gas.
In 2022, emissions from petroleum use increased by less than 1%, while CO2 emissions from natural gas consumption increased by 5% relative to 2021. Overall, fossil fuel combustion was responsible for about 74% of total US human-caused greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, with carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion increasing by 8% relative to 2020.
While renewable energy production and consumption reached record highs in 2023, accounting for about 9% of total primary energy production and consumption, the US continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, with petroleum being the largest source of carbon pollution.
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Coal use has declined since 2008
Coal use has been on a downward trajectory in the US since 2008. In 2023, the US produced 578 million short tons (MMst) of coal, less than half the amount produced in 2008 when coal production peaked. This decline has been attributed to several factors, including rising mining costs, stringent environmental regulations, and competition from other energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables.
The US coal industry has been facing significant challenges in recent years. Coal production has decreased across all types of coal, and coal exports have also declined. The retirement of old coal-fired generating units, built decades ago, has further contributed to the decline in coal usage. Additionally, coal mining employment has seen a steady decline, with job losses attributed to increased mechanization and regional competition.
Environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act of 1970, have played a crucial role in reducing coal usage. The Act imposed restrictions on sulfur emissions from coal-fired power plants, impacting the industry. However, despite these regulations, coal remained the primary source of electricity generation in the US until 2019, when natural gas surpassed it.
The shift from coal to natural gas and renewables has led to a notable decrease in carbon emissions. Combined emissions from coal and natural gas declined by 25% from their peak in 2008 to 2021. This transition is part of a broader trend towards cleaner energy sources, with renewable energy production and consumption reaching record highs in 2023.
While coal use has declined, the US remains a net exporter of coal. Coal exports increased significantly from 2006 to 2012, with Europe and Asia being the primary export markets. However, exports to China, once a major market, have dropped drastically due to rising environmental concerns.
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Renewable energy is growing fast
Fossil fuels have long been the primary source of energy in the US, accounting for 84% of total energy production and 60% of electric generation as of 2023. Dry natural gas was the largest source of energy in the US in 2021, making up 36% of production and 38% of generation.
However, renewable energy is on the rise in America. In 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for 21% of electricity generation, up from 14.94% in 2016 and just 7.7% in 2001. Solar deployment and electric vehicle sales broke records in 2023 and 2024, and renewables now dominate new power generation capacity. Solar capacity has been increasing year on year, with 27.4 GW installed in 2023 and an estimated 39.6 GW added in 2024, bringing the total installed capacity to about 220 GW. This is enough to provide over 7% of the nation's electricity. Wind energy has also seen impressive growth, with the US producing 2.6 times as much wind energy in 2022 as it did in 2013.
The growth of renewable energy is crucial for achieving a clean energy future and addressing climate change. President Barack Obama recognized this in his 2009 inaugural address, calling for expanded use of renewable energy and a federal investment of $150 billion over a decade to build a clean energy future. The benefits of renewable energy are significant, including improved public health, environmental protection, job creation, and technological leadership. Additionally, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar photovoltaics require little to no water to generate electricity, unlike thermoelectric power plants that rely on fossil fuels and have vast water requirements.
While there are challenges to deploying clean energy, such as grid capacity issues and permitting challenges, the US has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world and the potential to meet a rising share of its energy demand with renewables. With coordinated policies and efforts to expand renewable energy markets and promote new technologies, America can harness the power of clean, renewable energy to lead the 21st century.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels generated 60% of America's electricity in 2023.
Fossil fuels are primary energy sources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal.
Fossil fuels generated 2,509 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023.
Fossil fuels accounted for 84% of America's total primary energy production in 2023.
