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The [[United States]] was the second-largest energy consumer in 2010 after China.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Barr|first=Robert|title=China surpasses U.S. as top energy consumer|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43327793|agency=Associated Press|access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref> The country is ranked seventh in energy consumption per capita after Canada and several small nations.<ref name=":3">[http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/tablee1c.xls World Per Capita Total Primary Energy Consumption, 1980–2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013182222/http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/tablee1c.xls |date=October 13, 2006 }} (MS Excel format)</ref><ref>World Resources Institute "[http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/energy-resources/variable-351.html Energy Consumption: Consumption per capita] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212020102/http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/energy-resources/variable-351.html |date=December 12, 2004 }}" (2001). Nations with higher per-capita consumption are: Qatar, Iceland, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Luxembourg and Canada. Except for Canada, these are small countries with a prominent energy-intensive industry such as oil refining or [[steelmaking]].</ref> As of 2006, the country's energy consumption had increased more rapidly than domestic energy production over the last 50 years in the nation (when they were roughly equal). This difference was largely met through imports.<ref name="RistinenRobert2006">Ristinen, Robert, A. Energy and the Environment. Malloy, 2006. Print.</ref> Not included is the significant amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the United States.
The [[United States]] was the second-largest energy consumer in 2010 after China.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Barr|first=Robert|title=China surpasses U.S. as top energy consumer|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43327793|agency=Associated Press|access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref> The country is ranked seventh in energy consumption per capita after Canada and several small nations.<ref name=":3">[http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/tablee1c.xls World Per Capita Total Primary Energy Consumption, 1980–2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013182222/http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/tablee1c.xls |date=October 13, 2006 }} (MS Excel format)</ref><ref>World Resources Institute "[http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/energy-resources/variable-351.html Energy Consumption: Consumption per capita] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212020102/http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/energy-resources/variable-351.html |date=December 12, 2004 }}" (2001). Nations with higher per-capita consumption are: Qatar, Iceland, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Luxembourg and Canada. Except for Canada, these are small countries with a prominent energy-intensive industry such as oil refining or [[steelmaking]].</ref> As of 2006, the country's energy consumption had increased more rapidly than domestic energy production over the last 50 years in the nation (when they were roughly equal). This difference was largely met through imports.<ref name="RistinenRobert2006">Ristinen, Robert, A. Energy and the Environment. Malloy, 2006. Print.</ref> Not included is the significant amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the United States.


According to the [[Energy Information Administration]]'s statistics, the annual per-capita energy consumption in the U.S. has been somewhat consistent from the 1970s to the present time. The average was about {{convert|334|e6BTU|GJ|lk=on|abbr=~}} per person from 1980 to 2010. One explanation suggested that the energy required to increase the nation's consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the U.S. with a corresponding shift of green house gases and pollution. Meanwhile any gains made by increasing energy efficiency were at least partially consumed by the [[rebound effect (conservation)|rebound effect]]. In comparison, the world average increased from {{convert|63.7|to|75|e6BTU|abbr=unit}} per person per year between 1980 and 2008. An energy consumption of 352 GJ per year averages to a power of 11.16 Kilowatts, but due to [[capacity factor]]s below 100% and the effect of [[peak load]], installed [[nameplate capacity]] per capita needs to be higher than that. The equivalent watt figures for 67.2 GJ p.a. and 79.1 GJ p.a. are 2,131 watts and 2,508 watts respectively. As such, humanity as a whole wasn't a [[2000 watt society]] in 1980 and is moving further away from that mark every year.
According to the [[Energy Information Administration]]'s statistics, the annual per-capita energy consumption in the U.S. has been somewhat consistent from the 1970s to the present time. The average was about {{convert|334|e6BTU|GJ|lk=on|abbr=~}} per person from 1980 to 2010. One explanation suggested that the energy required to increase the nation's consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the U.S. with a corresponding shift of green house gases and pollution. Meanwhile any gains made by increasing energy efficiency were at least partially consumed by the [[rebound effect (conservation)|rebound effect]]. In comparison, the world average increased from {{convert|63.7|to|75|e6BTU|abbr=unit}} per person per year between 1980 and 2008.
The United States has an installed summer electricity generation capacity of 1115.68 GW in 2020, up 16.5 GW from 2019.


==History==
==History==
Line 329: Line 331:
===Consumption===
===Consumption===


[[Electric energy consumption|Electricity consumption]] in this section is based upon data mined from U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2018 files<ref name="ReferenceF">"Electric Power Annual"[http://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual] retrieved 2020-6-14</ref>
[[Electric energy consumption|Electricity consumption]] in this section is based upon data mined from U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2018 files<ref name="ReferenceF">"Electric Power Annual"[http://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual] retrieved 2020-6-14</ref> In 2018 the total U.S. consumption of electricity was 4,222.5 [[terawatt-hour]]s (TWh) or 15201 PJ. Consumption was up from 2017, by 131.9 TWh (475 PJ) or +3.2%. This is broken down as:
In 2018 the total U.S. consumption of electricity was 4,222.5 [[terawatt-hour]]s (TWh) or 15201 PJ.
Consumption was up from 2017, by 131.9 TWh (475 PJ) or +3.2%.
This is broken down as:
* Residential customers (133.89 million) directly consumed 1,469.09 TWh (5289 PJ), or 34.74% of the total. This was up 90.5 TWh (326 PJ) or 6.5% from 2017. An average residential customer used 914 kWh (3290 MJ) per month and with the average U.S. residential cost of $0.1287/kWh ($0.03575/MJ) the average monthly electrical bill would be $117.67, up slightly from 2017.<ref name="eia.gov"/>
* Residential customers (133.89 million) directly consumed 1,469.09 TWh (5289 PJ), or 34.74% of the total. This was up 90.5 TWh (326 PJ) or 6.5% from 2017. An average residential customer used 914 kWh (3290 MJ) per month and with the average U.S. residential cost of $0.1287/kWh ($0.03575/MJ) the average monthly electrical bill would be $117.67, up slightly from 2017.<ref name="eia.gov"/>
* Commercial customers (18.605 million) directly consumed 1,381.76 TWh (4974 PJ) or 32.72% of the total. This was more (28.86 TWh or 104 PJ) than in 2017 with over 246K new customers. An average commercial customer used 6,189 kWh (22,280 MJ) per month and with the average U.S. commercial electric cost of $0.1067/kWh ($0.0296/MJ) the average monthly electrical bill would be $660.36.<ref name="eia.gov"/>
* Commercial customers (18.605 million) directly consumed 1,381.76 TWh (4974 PJ) or 32.72% of the total. This was more (28.86 TWh or 104 PJ) than in 2017 with over 246K new customers. An average commercial customer used 6,189 kWh (22,280 MJ) per month and with the average U.S. commercial electric cost of $0.1067/kWh ($0.0296/MJ) the average monthly electrical bill would be $660.36.<ref name="eia.gov"/>

Revision as of 16:45, 10 October 2022

United States total primary energy consumption by fuel in 2021[1]

  Petroleum (36%)
  Natural gas (32%)
  Coal (11%)
  Nuclear (8%)
  Renewable energy (12%)
Development of carbon dioxide emissions

Energy in the United States came mostly from fossil fuels in 2021 as 36% of the nation's energy originated from petroleum, 32% from natural gas, and 11% from coal.[2] Nuclear power supplied 8% and renewable energy supplied 12%, which includes hydroelectric dams, biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar.[2]

The United States was the second-largest energy consumer in 2010 after China.[3] The country is ranked seventh in energy consumption per capita after Canada and several small nations.[4][5] As of 2006, the country's energy consumption had increased more rapidly than domestic energy production over the last 50 years in the nation (when they were roughly equal). This difference was largely met through imports.[6] Not included is the significant amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the United States.

According to the Energy Information Administration's statistics, the annual per-capita energy consumption in the U.S. has been somewhat consistent from the 1970s to the present time. The average was about 334 million British thermal units [BTU] (352 GJ) per person from 1980 to 2010. One explanation suggested that the energy required to increase the nation's consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the U.S. with a corresponding shift of green house gases and pollution. Meanwhile any gains made by increasing energy efficiency were at least partially consumed by the rebound effect. In comparison, the world average increased from 63.7 to 75 million BTU (67.2 to 79.1 GJ) per person per year between 1980 and 2008.

The United States has an installed summer electricity generation capacity of 1115.68 GW in 2020, up 16.5 GW from 2019.

History

U.S. primary energy consumption by source, 1776–2020. This chart follows the EIA "fossil fuel equivalence" definition of primary energy, which multiplies the electricity produced by solar, wind, hydro and geothermal using the average heat rate of fossil-fuel fired plants for that year. This is the definition traditionally used by EIA.[7]
U.S. electricity production by source, 1950–2020

From its founding until the late 19th century, the United States was a largely agrarian country with abundant forests. During this period, energy consumption overwhelmingly focused on readily available firewood. Rapid industrialization of the economy, urbanization, and the growth of railroads led to increased use of coal, and by 1885 it had eclipsed wood as the nation's primary energy source.[citation needed]

Coal remained dominant for the next seven decades, but by 1950, it was surpassed in turn by both petroleum and natural gas. The 1973 oil embargo precipitated an energy crisis in the United States.[8][9] In 2007, coal consumption was the highest it has ever been, with it mostly being used to generate electricity.[10] Natural gas has replaced coal as the preferred source of heating in homes, businesses, and industrial furnaces, which burns cleaner and is easier to transport.[11]

Although total energy use increased by approximately a factor of 50 between 1850 and 2000, energy use per capita increased only by a factor of four.[citation needed] As of 2009, United States per-capita energy use had declined to 7.075 tonnes of oil equivalent (296.2 GJ), 12% less than 2000, and in 2010, to levels not seen since the 1960s.[12] At the beginning of the 20th century, petroleum was a minor resource used to manufacture lubricants and fuel for kerosene and oil lamps. One hundred years later it had become the preeminent energy source for the United States and the rest of the world. This rise closely paralleled the emergence of the automobile as a major force in American culture and the economy.

While petroleum is also used as a source for plastics and other chemicals, and powers various industrial processes, today two-thirds of oil consumption in the U.S. is in the form of its derived transportation fuels.[13] Oil's unique qualities for transportation fuels in terms of energy content, cost of production, and speed of refueling all contributed to it being used over other fuels.[citation needed]

Summary

Energy in the United States[14]
Population
(million) 		Prim. energy
(PJ) 		Production
(PJ) 		Import
(PJ) 		Electricity
(PJ) 		CO2 emission
(Mt)
2004 294.0 97,380 68,706 29,916 14,116 5,800
2007 302.1 97,970 69,718 29,891 14,807 5,769
2008 304.5 95,616 71,428 26,564 14,962 5,596
2009 307.5 90,558 70,607 23,404 14,263 5,195
2010 310.1 92,794 72,202 22,338 14,915 5,369
2012 312.0 91,742 74,725 19,159 14,857 5,287
2012R 314.3 89,622 75,632 15,696 14,648 5,074
2013 316.5 91,624 78,754 12,910 14,796 5,120
Change 2004–2010 5.5% -4.7% 5.1% -25.3% 5.7% -7.4%
1 Mtoe = 41,868 TJ>, Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power[15]

2012R = CO2 calculation criteria changed, numbers updated

U.S. primary energy consumption by source and sector (2021)[16][17]
Supply sources Percent of source Demand sectors Percent of sector
Petroleum
36% 		69% Transportation
25% Industrial
5% Residential and commercial
1% Electric power 		Transportation
37% 		90% Petroleum
4% Natural gas
5% Renewable energy

<1% Electric Power

Natural gas
32% 		3% Transportation
33% Industrial
26% Residential and commercial
37% Electric power 		Industrial
35% 		34% Petroleum
40% Natural gas
4% Coal
9% Renewable energy

13% Electric Power

Coal
11% 		9% Industrial
<1% Commercial
90% Electric power 		Residential

16%

8% Petroleum
42% Natural gas
7% Renewable energy

43% Electric Power

Renewable energy
12% 		12% Transportation
19% Industrial
10% Residential and commercial
59% Electric power 		Commercial

12%

10% Petroleum
37% Natural gas
<1% Coal
3% Renewable energy

50% Electric Power

Nuclear electric power
8% 		100% Electric power Electric power
35% 		1% Petroleum
32% Natural gas
26% Coal
19% Renewable energy
22% Nuclear electric power

Note: Sum of components may not equal 100% due to independent rounding.

Primary energy consumption

U.S. energy flow, 2019. A quad is 1015 BTU, or 1.055 × 1018 joules (1.055 EJ). Note the breakdown of useful and waste energy in each sector (dark vs. light grey) due to the nature of heat engines, which cannot convert all thermal energy into useful work and consequently lose a portion of their heat to the environment.
U.S. primary energy consumption by source and sector, 2017. From the U.S. Energy Information Administration (Department of Energy).

Primary energy use in the United States was 90,558 petajoules [PJ] (25,155 TWh) or about 294,480 megajoules [MJ] (81,800 kWh) per person in 2009. Primary energy use was 3,960 PJ (1,100 TWh) less in the United States than in China in 2009. The share of energy import was 26% of the primary energy use. The energy import declined about 22% and the annual CO2 emissions about 10% in 2009 compared to 2004.[18] In 2020, the U.S as a whole produced 87.79 exajoules of energy.[19]

Total primary energy consumption (Mtoe)[20]
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
1,914 1,929.6 1,967.5 2,000.9 2,041.3 2,067.3 2,118.4 2,140.7 2,167.2 2,215.9 2,269
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2010–2011 CAGR 2001–11
2,226 2,256 2,261 2,308 2,319 2,297 2,338 2,278 2,165 2,218 2,192 -1.1% -0.04%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2,152 2,196 2,217 2.194 2,172 2,180 2,258

Energy consumption by source

Energy consumption by source in 2006 (PJ)
Fuel type United States[21] World[22]
Oil 42,156 181,180
Gas 23,400 113,940
Coal 23,760 134,568
Hydroelectric 3,024 31,356
Nuclear 8,676 29,304
Geothermal, wind,
solar, wood, waste		 3,420 4,968
Total 105,336 498,276

Wood

Main article: Wood fuel

Wood energy is created by the incineration of rigid cellulose material found in trees and woody bushes captures Among the most significant renewable energy sources is wood energy.[23] When examining the Renewable Energy as a Share of Total Primary Energy Consumption in 2011, wood consumption is 22%[24] There are five main types/forms of wood resources that can be converted into fuel energy, the five are biomass, woody biomass, wood pellets, wood chips, and cordwood.[3]

Biomass has been used since cavemen and hunter and gatherer societies. Biomass is organic, indicating it is constructed up of elements obtained from living organisms such as animals and plants. The most prevalent biomass sources used for energy are plants, wood, and waste. Biomass fuel sources are how they're referred to. Biomass energy is a nonrenewable energy source.[4]

Woody biomass, which encompasses trees and other woody plants, is defined as a result of maintenance, regenerating, and hazardous fuel reduction initiatives, as well as natural disasters.[7]

The average American family until the 1800s was most likely to use wood as the main source of energy consumption. Wood would be considered the predominant renewable energy source used until the mid to late 1800s.[10] The consumption of wood continues to be a significant aspect of fuel in various different countries, for numerous reasons including cooking and heating, as well as lighting their houses.[11] As mentioned, the second largest source of wood consumption was in the United States. Wood was used within homes as wood-burning appliances, wood in fireplaces, as well as pellets in pellet stoves.[12] Ranging from 1776 up until 2012, the use of wood as an energy source has been steady, there has been a minuscule increase from 1836 to 1926, with a peak in the late 1880s.[13]

Petroleum

Main article: Petroleum in the United States

Oil is one of the largest sources of energy in the United States. The United States influences world oil reserves for both growth and development.[25] As the 20th century progressed, petroleum gained increasing importance by providing heating and electricity to the commercial and industrial sectors. Oil was also used in transportation; first for railroads and later for motor vehicles.[26]

US oil production, imports, & exports

As automobiles became more affordable, demand for oil quickly rose. Since the rise of the automobile industry, oil price, demand, and production have all increased as well. Between 1900 and 1980, fuel was directly correlated with Gross National Product (GNP). Furthermore, oil shocks have often coincided with recessions, and the government has responded to oil shocks in several ways.[27] In the 1920s, oil prices were peaking and many commentators believed that oil supplies were running out. Congress was confronted by requests to augment supplies, so a generous depletion allowance was enacted for producers in 1926, which increased investment returns substantially. This change induced additional exploration activity, and subsequently the discovery of large new oil reservoirs.[28]

In the next decade the situation was reversed with prices low and dropping. This resulted in demands for more "orderly" competition and set minimum oil prices. Rather than repealing the previous policies enacted in the 1920s, Congress enacted a price-support system. Similar cycles have occurred in the 1950s and 1970s.[28]

Gas

Main article: Natural gas in the United States
See also: List of natural gas-fired power stations in the United States
US natural gas production, imports, and exports
Natural gas production by field

Natural gas was the largest source of energy production in the United States in 2016, representing 33% of all energy produced in the country.[29] Natural gas has been the largest source of electrical generation in the United States since July 2015.

The United States has been the world's largest producer of natural gas since 2009, when it surpassed Russia. U.S. natural gas production achieved new record highs for each year from 2011 through 2015. Marketed natural gas production in 2015 was 28.8 trillion cubic feet (820 billion cubic metres), a 5.4% increase over 2014, and a 52% increase over the production of 18.9 trillion cu ft (540 billion m3) per day in 2005.[30]

Because of the greater supply, consumer prices for natural gas are significantly lower in the United States than in Europe and Japan.[31] The low price of natural gas, together with its smaller carbon footprint compared to coal, has encouraged a rapid growth in electricity generated from natural gas.

Between 2005 and 2014, U.S. production of natural gas liquids (NGLs) increased 70%, from 1.74 million barrels of oil equivalent (10.6 PJ) per day in 2005 to 2.96 million barrels of oil equivalent (18.1 PJ) per day in 2014. The U.S. has been the world's leading producer of natural gas liquids since 2010, when U.S. NGL production passed that of Saudi Arabia.

Although the United States leads the world in natural gas production, it is only fifth in proved reserves of natural gas, behind Russia, Iran, Qatar, and Turkmenistan.

Coal

Main article: Coal power in the United States
See also: Coal mining in the United States and List of coal-fired power stations in the United States

Generation of electricity is the largest user of coal, although its use is in decline. About 50% of electric power was produced by coal in 2005, declining to 30% in 2016 and 23% in 2019.[32][33] Electric utilities buy more than 90% of the coal consumed in the United States.[34]

The United States is a net exporter of coal. Coal exports, for which Europe is the largest customer, peaked in 2012 and have declined since. In 2015, the U.S. exported 7.0% of mined coal.[35]

Coal has been used to generate electricity in the United States since an Edison plant was built in New York City in 1882.[36] The first AC power station was opened by General Electric in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania in 1902, servicing the Webster Coal and Coke Company.[36] By the mid-20th century, coal had become the leading fuel for generating electricity in the U.S. The long, steady rise of coal-fired generation of electricity shifted to a decline after 2007. The decline has been linked to the increased availability of natural gas, decreased consumption,[37] renewable electricity, and more stringent environmental regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency has advanced restrictions on coal plants to counteract mercury pollution, smog, and global warming.

Hydroelectricity

Main article: Hydroelectricity in the United States

Hydroelectricity was considered one of the largest sources of electricity until 2019.[38] Hydroelectricity was responsible for about 6.3% of the U.S. utility-scale electricity generation, as well as about 31.5% of total utility-scale renewable electricity generation in 2021.[38] Hydroelectric energy, also known as hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is a type of energy that generates electricity by utilizing the potential energy of water, such as water running over a waterfall. For centuries, individuals have exploited this energy.[39]

In many cases, hydroelectric energy or hydroelectric power plants' process to produce electricity can be compared to coal-fired power plants.[40] Hydropower presently accounts for 37% of total renewable electricity output and 7% of overall electricity generation in the United States.[41] The angle of inclination formed by a dam or diversion construction allows water to flow in and out on one side, therefore, generating electricity.[41]

The cost of hydropower can be considered very affordable, due to the fact that the source of electricity and energy come from moving water, states within the United States that have more moving water such as Washington and Oregon have more affordable electricity bills.[41] There are many advantages of hydropower, since it is fueled by water it is considered a clean source of energy. As well as it is a domestic source of energy, making it easier to reply to each state's sources rather than being reliant on international sources.[42] Hydropower accounted for 17% of global energy generation in 2020, making it the third largest generator following coal and natural gas. Hydropower's overall production has grown by 70% internationally in the previous 20 years, but its percentage of overall generation has remained steady due to the rise of wind, solar PV, coal, and natural gas.[43]

Hydroelectricity is mostly used for electricity production in the United States and in 2019 there were 1,460 utility scale hydropower facilities. These produced 274 billion kilowatt-hours. In 2019, it accounted for 6.6% of total electricity production and 38% of renewable electricity. The amount of electricity in the United States from hydropower has remained relatively the same since the 70's, however it's percentage has decreased due to more production from other sources. In 1950, 30% of total electricity production came from hydropower despite only 101 billion kilowatt-hours being produced.[44][45]

Hydropower has been used to produce electricity in the United States since 1880 when it was used to power the Wolverine Chair factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[45]

In 2019, the top five Hydroelectricity producing states produced 65% of the United States total hydroelectricity. This includes Washington state with 24%, California with 15%, New York with 11%, Oregon, with 11% and, Alabama with 4%. The largest hydroelectric power plant in the United States, which is also the largest overall power, is the Grand Coulee Dam built in Washington state in 1942 with a generating capacity of 6,809 Megawatts.[44]

Nuclear

Main article: Nuclear power in the United States

Other renewables

Main article: Renewable energy in the United States

Final energy consumption

Consumption by sector

The U.S. Department of Energy tracks national energy consumption in four broad sectors: industrial, transportation, residential, and commercial. The industrial sector has long been the country's largest energy user, currently representing about 33% of the total. Next in importance is the transportation sector followed by the residential and commercial sectors.

Sector summary
Sector name Description Major uses[46][47][48]
Industrial Facilities and equipment used for producing and processing goods. 22% chemical production
16% petroleum refining
14% metal smelting/refining
Transportation Vehicles which transport people/goods on ground, air, or water. 61% gasoline fuel
21% diesel fuel
12% aviation
Residential Living quarters for private households. 32% space heating
13% water heating
12% lighting
11% air conditioning
8% refrigeration
5% electronics
5% wet-clean (mostly clothes dryers)
Commercial Service-providing facilities and equipment (businesses, government, other institutions). 25% lighting
13% heating
11% cooling
6% refrigeration
6% water heating
6% ventilation
6% electronics

Regional variation

2017 residential sector energy price estimates (U.S. dollars per million Btus) from the Energy Information Administration. States with residential sector energy price estimates higher than the United States as a whole in dark green.[49]
Average annual residential electricity usage by city, 2000–2005. Measured in kWh per customer.[50]

Household energy use varies significantly across the United States. An average home in the Pacific region (consisting of California, Oregon, and Washington) consumes 35% less energy than a home in the South Central region. Some of the regional differences can be explained by climate. The heavily populated coastal areas of the Pacific states experience generally mild winters and summers, reducing the need for both home heating and air conditioning. The warm, humid climates of the South Central and South Atlantic regions lead to higher electricity usage, while the cold winters experienced in the Northeast and North Central regions result in much higher consumption of natural gas and heating oil. The state with the lowest per-capita energy use is New York, at 205 million BTU (216 GJ; 60 MWh) per year,[51] and the highest is Wyoming, at slightly over 1 billion BTU (1,100 GJ; 290 MWh) per year.[52]

Other regional differences stem from energy efficiency measures taken at the local and state levels. California has some of the strictest environmental laws and building codes in the country, leading its per-household energy consumption to be lower than all other states except Hawaii.

The land-use decisions of cities and towns also explain some of the regional differences in energy use. Townhouses are more energy efficient than single-family homes because less heat, for example, is used per person. Similarly, areas with more homes in a compact neighborhood encourage walking, biking and transit, thereby reducing transportation energy use. A 2011 U.S. EPA study found that multi-family homes in urban neighborhoods, with well-insulated buildings and fuel-efficient cars, use less than two-thirds of the energy used by conventionally built single-family houses in suburban areas (with standard cars).[53]

Electricity

Main article: Electricity sector of the United States
Residential energy consumption per capita by state[54]

The United States is the world's second largest producer and consumer of electricity.[55] It consumes about 20%[56] of the world's electricity supply. This section provides a summary of the consumption and generation of the nation's electric industry, based on data mined from U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2018 files.[57] Data was obtained from the most recent DOE Energy Information Agency (EIA) files. Consumption is detailed from the residential, commercial, industrial, and other user communities. Generation is detailed for the major fuel sources of coal, natural gas, nuclear, petroleum, hydro, and the other renewables of wind, wood, other biomass, geothermal, and solar. Changes to the electrical energy fuel mix and other trends are identified. Progress in wind and solar contributing to the energy mix are addressed.

Consumption

Electricity consumption in this section is based upon data mined from U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2018 files[58] In 2018 the total U.S. consumption of electricity was 4,222.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) or 15201 PJ. Consumption was up from 2017, by 131.9 TWh (475 PJ) or +3.2%. This is broken down as:

  • Residential customers (133.89 million) directly consumed 1,469.09 TWh (5289 PJ), or 34.74% of the total. This was up 90.5 TWh (326 PJ) or 6.5% from 2017. An average residential customer used 914 kWh (3290 MJ) per month and with the average U.S. residential cost of $0.1287/kWh ($0.03575/MJ) the average monthly electrical bill would be $117.67, up slightly from 2017.[57]
  • Commercial customers (18.605 million) directly consumed 1,381.76 TWh (4974 PJ) or 32.72% of the total. This was more (28.86 TWh or 104 PJ) than in 2017 with over 246K new customers. An average commercial customer used 6,189 kWh (22,280 MJ) per month and with the average U.S. commercial electric cost of $0.1067/kWh ($0.0296/MJ) the average monthly electrical bill would be $660.36.[57]
  • Industrial customers (840,321, flat with 2017) directly consumed 1000.7 TWh (3603 PJ) or 23.70% of the total. This was a little more (16.4 TWh or 59 PJ) than in 2017 (+1.6%).
  • Transportation customers (83) directly consumed 7.665 TWh (27,594 MJ) or 0.18% of the total. This was a little higher (0.14 TWh or 1PJ) than in 2017.
  • System loss throughout the total electrical grid infrastructure by direct use of the suppliers (144.1 TWh or 519 PJ)[59] and for transmission and other system losses and for unaccounted for loads (219.2 TWh or 789 PJ) amounts to 363.3 TWh (1308 PJ)or 8.6% of the total which is down by 0.4% from 2017. Thus, the U.S. electric distribution system is 91.4% efficient and efficiency has improved slightly over the last year.[60]
  • Ten-year consumption by user community, 2009–2018[61]
    Ten-year consumption by user community, 2009–2018[61]
  • 2018 electric energy consumption profile
    2018 electric energy consumption profile
  • Residential, commercial and industrial U.S. customers
    Residential, commercial and industrial U.S. customers
  • U.S. Average Residential Costs per kWh
    U.S. Average Residential Costs per kWh
  • 2018 per capita Electric Energy consumption by state
    2018 per capita Electric Energy consumption by state

A profile of the electric energy consumption[62] for 2018 is shown in one of the above graphs. The April minimum of 304 TWh (1,090 PJ) to the July peak of 416 TWh (1,500 PJ) shows the monthly range of consumption variations.

In addition to consumption from the electrical grid, the U.S. consumers consumed an estimated additional 35.04 TWh from small scale solar systems. This will be included in the per capita data below.

Electricity consumption per capita is based upon data mined from U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2018 files[58] Population[63] data is from Demographics of the United States. Per-capita consumption in 2018 is 13,004 kWh (46,810 MJ). This is up 372 kWh (1,340 MJ) from 2017, down 4.6% from a decade ago, and down 6.4% from its peak in 2007. The following table shows the yearly U.S. per-capita consumption from 2013 to 2019.

Electricity per capita in the United States, 2013–2019
Year Population (Thousands) Per-capita consumption (kWh)
2019 328,940 12,772
2018 326,980 13,004
2017 325,719 12,632
2016 323,128 12,861
2015 320,897 12,915
2014 318,857 13,005
2013 316,129 13,010

Generation

Power plants map
US Electricity Prices
  US average
  North East
  West
  Midwest
  South

The United States has an installed summer electricity generation capacity of 1115.68 GW in 2020, up 16.5 GW from 2019.[64] The U.S. electricity generation was 4,007.14TWh (14,429.7 PJ because 1TWh=3.6 PJ) in 2020 and down 120.7TWh (2.9%) from 2019 (pre-pandemic).[65] The U.S. also imported;[66] 61.45 TWh and exported 14.13 TWh, for a total of 4,054.45 TWh of electrical grid energy use in the U.S. This was down 112.5 TWh (2.7%) from 2019. Electrical energy generated from coal was 773.39 TWh (19.48%); natural and other gases, 1,635.985 TWh (40.35%); nuclear, 789.879 TWh (19.11%); hydro, 285.274 TWh (7.04%); Renewables (other than hydro), 497.729 TWh (12.28%); imports less exports, 47.314 TWh (1.17%) petroleum, 17.341 TWh (0.43%); and miscellaneous (including pumped storage), 7.534 TWh (0.19%).

The United States' renewable sources (hydro reported separately) are wind, 337.938 TWh (8.33%); wood, 36.21 TWh (0.89%); other biomass, 18.493 TWh (0.46%); geothermal, 15.89 TWh (0.39%) and solar, 89.199 TWh (2.20%). Small-scale solar is estimated[65] to have produced an additional 41.522 TWh . Natural gas electricity generation exceeded generation from coal for the first time in 2016 and continued its expansion. Wind exceeded Hydro in 2019 for the first time. Nuclear exceeded coal for the first time in 2020.

The following tables summarize the electrical energy generated by fuel source for the United States. Electric Power Annual[67] for 2020 data and preliminary data from Electric Power Monthly for the 2021 data[[68] was used throughout the rest of this section.

Electricity generation in the United States in 2020[69][70]
Power Source Plants Summer Capacity (GW) % of total Capacity Capacity factor Annual Energy (billion kWh) % of Total U.S.
Coal 284 215.55 19.32% 0.410 773.393 19.08%
Nat Gas+ 1968 488.08 43.75% 0.383 1635.985 40.35%
Nuclear 56 96.5 8.65% 0.934 789.879 19.48%
Hydro 1446 79.92 7.16% 0.407 285.274 7.04%
Other Renewables 5918 181.96 16.40% 0.312 497.729 12.28%
Petroleum 1091 27.57 2.47% 0.072 17.341 0.43%
Other 267 3.08 0.28% 0.476 12.855 0.32%
Storage 40 23.02 2.06% -0.026 -5.321 -0.13%
Net Imports 47.314 1.17%
Total 11070 1115.68 100.00% 0.415 4054.449 100.00%
Electric production by renewables in 2020[71]
Power Source Summer Capacity (GW) % of Renewable Capacity % of Total Capacity Capacity Factor Annual Energy (billion kWh) % of Renewable Energy % of U.S. Generation
Wind 118.38 45.21% 10.61% 0.326 337.938 43.16% 8.43%
Hydro 79.92 30.52% 7.16% 0.407 285.274 36.43% 7.12%
Solar 48.05 18.35% 4.31% 0.212 89.199 11.39% 2.23%
Biomass 12.95 4.95% 1.16% 0.482 54.7 6.99% 1.37%
Geothermal 2.57 0.98% 0.23% 0.706 15.89 2.03% 0.40%
Total 261.87 100.00% 23.47% 0.347 783.001 100.00% 19.54%

Note: Biomass includes wood and wood derived fuel, landfill gas, biogenic municipal solid waste and other waste biomass.

Electricity generation by source

2018 Electric Energy Generation Profile
 Profile of U.S. Electricity Generation 2020-2018
Electricity generation by source (TWh per year)[72][73]
Year Fossil fuel Nuclear Renewable Misc5 Total6
Coal Oil Gas1 Subtotal Hydro2 Geothermal Solar3 Wind Wood Bio4
other 		Subtotal
20217 898.679 18.782 1,586.513 2,503.974 778.152 260.225 16.238 114.678 379.767 37.170 18.309 826.387 46.353 4,154.866
Proportion 20217 21.63% 0.45% 38.18% 60.27% 18.73% 6.26% 0.39% 2.76% 9.14% 0.89% 0.44% 19.82% 1.12% 100.0%
2020 773.393 17.341 1,635.985 2,426.719 789.879 285.274 15.890 89.199 337.938 36.210 18.493 783.004 54.848 4,054.450
Proportion 2020 19.08% 0.43% 40.35% 59.85% 19.48% 7.04% 0.39% 2.20% 8.33% 0.89% 0.46% 19.56% 1.35% 100.0%
2019 964.957 18.341 1,598.405 2,581.703 809.409 287.874 15.473 71.937 295.882 38.543 18.964 728.673 47.114 4,166.900
2018 1,149.49 25.23 1,482.40 2,657.11 807.08 292.52 15.97 63.83 272.67 40.94 20.90 706.82 51.53 4222.532
2017 1,205.84 21.39 1,308.89 2,536.12 804.95 300.33 15.93 53.29 254.30 41.15 21.61 686.61 62.90 4,090.58
2016 1,239.15 24.20 1,391.11 2,654.47 805.69 267.81 15.83 36.05 226.99 40.95 21.81 609.45 67.49 4,137.10
2015 1,352.40 28.25 1,346.60 2,727.25 797.18 249.08 15.92 24.89 190.72 41.93 21.70 544.24 75.61 4,144.27
Proportion 2015 32.63% 0.68% 32.49% 65.81% 19.24% 6.01% 0.38% 0.60% 4.6% 01.01% 0.52% 13.13% 1.82% 100.0%
2014 1,581.71 30.23 1,138.63 2,750.57 797.17 259.37 15.88 17.69 181.655 42.34 21.65 538.58 60.50 4,146.2
2013 1,581.12 27.16 1,137.69 2,745.97 789.02 268.57 15.78 9.04 167.84 40 20.83 522.07 55.64 4,112.7
2012 1,514.04 23.19 1,237.79 2,775.02 769.33 276.24 15.56 4.33 140.82 37.8 19.82 494.57 56.1 4095
2011 1,733.4 30.2 1,025.3 2,788.9 790.2 319.4 15.3 1.82 120.2 37.4 19.2 513.32 46 4138.4
2010 1,847.3 37.1 999.0 2,883.4 807.0 260.2 15.2 1.21 94.7 37.2 18.9 427.4 33.3 4,151.0
Proportion 2010 44.5% 0.9% 24.1% 69.5% 19.4% 6.3% 0.37% 0.029% 2.3% 0.9% 0.5% 10.3% 0.8% 100.0%
2009 1,755.9 38.9 931.6 2,726.5 798.9 273.4 15.0 0.89 73.9 36.1 18.4 417.7 41.4 3,984.4
2008 1,985.8 46.2 894.7 2,926.7 806.2 254.8 14.8 0.86 55.4 37.3 17.7 380.9 38.3 4,152.2
2007 2,016.5 65.7 910.0 2,992.2 806.4 247.5 14.6 0.61 34.5 39.0 16.5 352.7 36.6 4,188.0
2000 1,966 111 615 2,692 754 260 14 0.49 5.6 37.6 23 318.7 38.6 3,836
Proportion 2000 51.3% 2.9% 16.0% 70.2% 19.7% 7.2% 0.37% 0.013% 0.15% 1.0% 0.6% 9.3% 0.9% 100.0%
1999 1,881 118 57l 2,570 728 319.5 14.8 0.50 4.5 37 22.6 392.8 55 3,723.8

Notes: 1 Gas includes natural gas and other gases. 2 Hydro excludes pumped storage (not an energy source, used by all sources, other than hydro). 3 Solar includes photovoltaics and thermal. 4 Bio other includes waste, landfill gas, and other. 5 Misc. includes misc. generation, pumped storage, and net imports. 6 Total includes net imports. 7 2021 data is from Electric Power Monthly and is preliminary.[73]

  • Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Coal 2020-2018
    Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Coal 2020-2018
  • Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Natural Gas 2020-2018
    Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Natural Gas 2020-2018
  • Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Nuclear 2020-2018
    Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Nuclear 2020-2018
  • Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Hydro 2020-2018
    Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Hydro 2020-2018
  • Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Wind 2020-2018
    Profile of U.S. Electric Generation by Wind 2020-2018
  • Profile of U.S. Electric Generation for Utility Solar 2020-2018
    Profile of U.S. Electric Generation for Utility Solar 2020-2018

State electric characteristics

Individual states have very diverse electric generation systems, and their new initiatives to expand their generation base are equally diverse. Coupled with consumption disparages, it leads to a mix of "have" and "have not" electric energy states. Using the data from the U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2017 files.[74] Data was obtained from the most recent DOE Energy Information Agency (EIA) full year files.[75] Full use of the excellent EIA data browser[76] permits easy access to the plethora of data available.

State electric generation

  • 2018 States Electric Generation by Source (%)
    2018 States Electric Generation by Source (%)
  • 2018 Total State Electric Energy Generation
    2018 Total State Electric Energy Generation

Top ten states by fuel source

  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Coal
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Coal
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Petroleum
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Petroleum
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Natural and other Gases
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Natural and other Gases
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Nuclear
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Nuclear
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Hydro
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Hydro
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Solar
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Solar
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Wind
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Wind
  • 2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Biomass
    2018 Top Ten States for Generation of Electricity by Biomass

Importing states

States which had to import electricity in 2018

The following table, derived from data mined from Electric Power Annual,[77][78] identifies those states which must import electrical energy from neighboring states to meet their consumption needs. Each state's total electric generation for 2018 is compared with the state's consumption, and its share of the system loss and the difference between the generated electric energy and its total consumption (including its share of the system loss) is the amount of energy it imports. For Hawaii, total consumption equals generated energy. For the other states, multiplying their direct consumption by 1.082712997 (4168280574/3849848100), results in the United States' supply (including net imports) being equal to its total consumption.

Net-importer states in 2018[77][78]
State Consumption Generation State imports
Retail sales (MWh) Total usage (MWh) MWh % 2018 % 2017 Change
CA 255,224,272 276,334,636 195,265,638 81,068,998 41.52% 37.12% ↓
OH 152,915,167 165,563,239 126,184,610 39,378,629 31.21% 34.77% ↓
VA 118,166,348 127,940,241 95,509,121 32,431,120 33.96% 35.53% ↑
MA 53,285,029 57,692,393 27,172,882 30,519,511 112.32% 79.16% ↓
TN 102,911,183 111,423,275 81,554,917 29,868,358 36.62% 35.16% ↓
NY 149,929,851 162,330,998 132,520,501 29,810,497 22.50% 24.40% ↑
MD 62,086,455 67,221,812 43,809,648 23,412,164 53.44% 91.06% ↑
GA 139,866,074 151,434,816 129,239,371 22,195,445 17.17% 15.05% ↓
NC 138,287,404 149,725,570 134,249,497 15,476,073 11.53% 12.40% ↔
FL 238,565,391 258,297,849 244,252,035 14,045,814 5.75% 7.45% ↑
MN 68,708,382 74,391,458 61,517,441 12,874,017 20.93% 25.59% ↑
DC 11,357,910 12,297,357 79,331 12,218,026 15401.33% 17836.59% ↑
WI 70,959,549 76,828,826 65,936,803 10,892,023 16.52% 16.58% ↔
ID 23,753,508 25,718,232 18,172,120 7,546,112 41.53% 50.28% ↑
NJ 76,016,762 82,304,336 75,033,600 7,270,736 9.69% 6.59% ↓
DE 11,773,100 12,746,888 6,240,644 6,506,244 104.26% 63.12% ↓
CO 56,450,480 61,119,668 55,386,279 5,733,389 10.35% 11.89% ↑
KY 76,610,636 82,947,331 78,804,497 4,142,834 5.26% 9.06% ↑
VT 5,530,948 5,988,429 2,178,915 3,809,514 174.84% 178.29% ↑
MO 82,055,835 88,842,919 85,095,384 3,747,535 4.40% 0.70%* ↓
ME 12,354,819 13,376,723 | 11,280,700 2,096,023 18.58% 9.38% ↓
SD 12,856,938 13,920,374 12,616,396 1,303,978 10.34% 23.72% ↑
NV 37,780,263 40,905,182 39,640,241 1,264,941 3.19% 5.43% ↑
AK 5,972,467 6,466,468 6,247,359 219,109 3.51% 4.60% ↑
SUM 1,963,418,771 2,125,819,022 1,727,987,930 397,831,092 *=Export

Exporting states

The following table, derived from data mined from Electric Power Annual,[77][78] identifies those states which generate more electrical energy than they need to meet their consumption needs. They supply those that need additional energy. Each state's total electric generation for 2018 is compared with the state's consumption, and its share of the system losses and the difference between the generated electric energy and its total consumption (including its share of the system losses) is the amount of energy it exports. For Hawaii, total consumption equals generated energy. For the other states, multiplying their direct consumption by 1.082712997 (4168280574/3849848100) results in the United States' supply (including net imports) being equal to its total consumption usage. A state's exported energy is determined by subtracting the state's total consumption from its generation.

States which EXPORTED Electricity in 2018
Net-exporters states in 2018[77][78]
State Generation Consumption State exports
Retail sales (MWh) Total usage (MWh) MWh % 2018 % 2017 Change
PA 215,385,830 148,976,731 161,299,043 54,086,787 25.11% 26.46% ↓
AL 145,057,994 90,280,456 97,747,823 47,310,171 32.61% 32.30% ↔
IL 188,003,357 142,654,808 154,454,215 33,549,142 17.84% 17.89% ↔
WV 67,249,025 33,646,813 36,429,842 30,819,183 45.83% 52.51% ↓
WY 46,112,136 16,864,678 18,259,606 27,852,530 60.40% 60.56% ↔
AZ 111,925,144 78,346,302 84,826,559 27,098,585 24.21% 19.40% ↑
ND 42,615,321 20,669,506 22,379,143 20,236,178 47.49% 46.68% ↔
WA 116,756,729 90,005,791 97,450,440 19,306,289 16.54% 12.84% ↑
TX 477,352,425 424,418,628 459,523,565 17,828,860 3.73% 2.48% ↑
OK 86,223,721 64,575,316 69,916,534 16,307,187 18.91% 9.86% ↑
AR 67,999,352 49,602,708 53,705,497 14,293,855 21.02% 16.68% ↑
MT 28,212,831 14,838,845 16,066,210 12,146,621 43.05% 42.73% ↔
SC 99,364,088 81,641,138 88,393,921 10,970,167 11.04% 7.81% ↑
OR 64,113,560 49,325,904 53,405,797 10,707,763 16.70% 12.32% ↑
MS 63,473,771 50,390,068 54,557,982 8,915,789 14.05% 12.01% ↑
CT 39,453,552 28,833,925 31,218,865 8,234,687 20.87% 10.56% ↑
IA 63,380,569 51,210,655 55,446,442 7,934,127 12.52% 7.18% ↑
NM 32,673,682 24,048,611 26,037,744 6,635,938 20.31% 24.75% ↓
KS 51,710,213 42,036,979 45,513,984 6,196,229 11.98% 13.09% ↑
UT 39,375,424 31,242,408 33,826,561 5,548,863 14.09% 10.16% ↑
NH 17,087,156 11,046,284 11,959,955 5,127,201 30.01% 32.07% ↓
NE 36,966,216 30,939,492 33,498,590 3,467,626 9.38% 5.79% ↑
MI 115,837,095 104,869,496 113,543,566 2,293,529 1.98% 0.31% ↑
IN 113,459,711 104,194,376 112,812,605 647,106 0.57% 9.91%* ↑
RI 8,375,257 7,583,339 8,210,580 164,677 1.97% 6.55%* ↑
LA 102,128,485 94,186,072 101,976,484 152,001 0.15% 2.55%* ↑
HI 9,796,773 9,337,161 9,796,773 0 0.00% 0.00% ↔
NET IMP 44,455,000
SUM 2,494,544,417 1,895,766,490 2,052,258,325 397,831,092 *=Import

Renewable energy

Main article: Renewable energy in the United States
  • 2018 profile of renewables
    2018 profile of renewables
  • Hydro
    Hydro
  • Wind
    Wind
  • Solar
    Solar
  • Biomass
    Biomass
  • Geothermal
    Geothermal

Sources of total United States renewable energy, 2012 (U.S. EIA)

  Biomass (49.1%)
  Hydroelectric (30.3%)
  Wind (15.4%)
  Solar (2.7%)
  Geothermal (2.6%)
The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm is an 845-megawatt wind farm in the U.S. state of Oregon

Renewable energy in the United States accounted for 13.2% of the domestically produced electricity in 2014,[79] and 11.2% of total energy generation.[80] As of 2014, more than 143,000 people work in the solar industry and 43 states deploy net metering, where energy utilities buy back excess energy generated by solar arrays.[81]

Renewable energy reached a major milestone in the first quarter of 2011, when it contributed 11.7% of total U.S. energy production (2.245 quadrillion BTU or 2.369 EJ of energy), surpassing nuclear energy production (2.125 quadrillion BTU or 2.242 EJ).[82] 2011 was the first year since 1997 that renewables exceeded nuclear in total U.S. energy production.[83]

Hydroelectric power is currently the largest producer of renewable energy in the U.S. It produced around 6.2% of the nation's total electricity in 2010 which was 60.2% of the total renewable energy in the U.S.[84] The United States is the fourth largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world after China, Canada, and Brazil. The Grand Coulee Dam is the 5th largest hydroelectric power station in the world.

U.S. wind power's installed capacity now exceeds 65,000 MW and supplies 4% of the nation's electric power.[85][86] Texas is firmly established as the leader in wind power development followed by Iowa and California.[87]

The United States has some of the largest solar farms in the world. Solar Star is a 579-megawatt (MWAC) farm near Rosamond, California.[88] The Desert Sunlight Solar Farm is a 550-megawatt solar power plant in Riverside County, California[89] and the Topaz Solar Farm, a 550 MW photovoltaic power plant, is in San Luis Obispo County, California.[90] The solar thermal SEGS group of plants in the Mojave Desert has a total generating capacity of 354 MW.[91]

The Geysers in Northern California is the largest complex of geothermal energy production in the world.

The development of renewable energy and efficient energy use marks "a new era of energy exploration" in the United States, according to President Barack Obama.[92] Studies suggest that if there is enough political will, it is feasible to supply the whole United States with 100% renewable energy by 2050.[93][94]

In 2015, electrical energy usage in the United States was 1.6% more than in 2005 and 1% less than the peak in 2007. Per-capita consumption has decreased about 7% since its peak in 2007 and every year since has shown a decrease in individual consumption. Conservation efforts are helping. At least, for the next decade, coal, natural gas, and nuclear will remain the top three fuels for electric energy generation in the United States. Coal will continuously decrease its contribution, with natural gas increasing its contribution. Nuclear will have some downs (decommissionings) and ups (new online plants) but probably remain about constant. Hydro will maintain. Petroleum will continue to decrease in importance. Wind and solar will continue to grow in importance; their combined generation was 5.29% of U.S. electric generation for 2015 or 5.20% of total U.S. consumption.

Per-capita energy use in the United States

From the beginning of the United States until 1973, total energy (including electrical) use increased by about 3% per year, while population increased an average of 2.2% per year. Per-capita energy use from 1730 to 1870 was about 100 million BTU (110 GJ) per person. In the 20th century this increased to around 300 million BTU or 320 GJ (332 million BTU or 350 GJ per person per year in 1981).[95]

In 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney said the U.S. would need "at least 1,300 new power plants over the next 20 years."[96]

Efficiency improvements could cause energy use to drop considerably.

A concentrating solar array (CSP) with thermal storage has a practical capacity factor of 33%[97] and could provide power 24 hours a day. Prior to 2012, in six southwestern states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owned nearly 98 million acres or 400,000 square kilometres (an area larger than the state of Montana) that was open to proposals for solar power installations. To streamline consideration of applications, the BLM produced a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). By the subsequent Record of Decision in October 2012, the BLM withdrew 78% of its land from possible solar development, leaving 19 million acres (77,000 km2) still open to applications for solar installations, an area nearly as large as South Carolina. Of the area left open to solar proposals, the BLM has identified 285,000 acres (115,000 ha) in highly favorable areas it calls Solar Energy Zones.[98] In Spain, with natural gas backups, CSP has reached a capacity factor of 66%, with 75% being a theoretical maximum.[99][failed verification]

See also

References

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Further reading

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