Energy in the United States is obtained from a diverse portfolio of sources, although the majority came from fossil fuels in 2023, as 38% of the nation's energy originated from petroleum, 36% from natural gas, and 9% from coal. Electricity from nuclear power supplied 9% and renewable energy supplied 9%, which includes biomass, wind, hydro, solar and geothermal.[2][1]
Energy figures are measured in BTU, with 1 BTU equal to 1.055 kJ and 1 quadrillion BTU (1 quad) equal to 1.055 EJ. Because BTU is a unit of heat, sources that generate electricity directly are multiplied by a conversion factor to equate them with sources that use a heat engine.[3]
The United States was the second-largest energy producer and consumer in 2021 after China.[4] The country had a per capita energy consumption of 295 million BTU (311 GJ), ranking it tenth in the world behind Canada, Norway, and several Arabian nations.[4] Consumption in 2023 was mostly for industry (33%) and transportation (30%), with use in homes (20%) and commercial buildings (17%) making up the remainder.[5][6]
The United States' portion of the electrical grid in North America had a nameplate capacity of 1,280 GW[7] and produced 4,029 TWh[8] in 2023, using 34% of primary energy to do so.[9] The country is the second-largest producer and consumer of electricity, behind China.[4] Natural gas overtook coal as the dominant source for electric generation in 2016. Coal was overtaken by nuclear for the first time in 2020 and by renewables in 2023.[8]
- ^ a b "Monthly Energy Review". EIA. November 26, 2024. 1.3 Primary energy consumption by source. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. energy facts explained". EIA. July 15, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Monthly Energy Review". EIA. November 26, 2024. Appendix A6. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c "International". EIA. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
EIA 2.1awas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
EIA 2.1bwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Electric Power Annual". EIA. November 26, 2024. 4.3. Existing capacity by energy source. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ a b "Monthly Energy Review". EIA. November 26, 2024. 7.2b Electric power sector. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Monthly Energy Review". EIA. November 26, 2024. 2.1b Energy consumption: Transportation sector, total end-use sectors, and electric power sector. Retrieved December 12, 2024.