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{{Short description|None}}{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}(File:US Energy Consumption 2021 Major.png|thumb|Overall energy consumption in 2021WEB,weblink U.S. energy facts explained, June 10, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, )Energy in the United States is obtained from a diverse portfolio of sources, although the majority came from fossil fuels in 2021, as 36% of the nation's energy originated from petroleum, 32% from natural gas, and 11% from coal. Electricity from nuclear power supplied 8% and renewable energy supplied 12%, which includes biomass, wind, hydro, solar and geothermal.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.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, Appendix E p2, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 19, 2023, The United States was the second-largest energy producer and consumer in 2021 after China.WEB,weblink International, EIA, April 14, 2023, The country had a per capita energy consumption of {{convert|295|e6BTU|abbr=unit}}, ranking it tenth in the world behind Canada, Norway, and several Arabian nations. Consumption was mostly for industry (33%) and transportion (28%), with use in homes (21%) and commercial buildings (18%) making up the remainder.The United States' portion of the electrical grid in North America had a nameplate capacity of 1,213 GW and produced 3,988 TWh in 2021, using 37% of primary energy to do so.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 7.2b Electric power sector, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, WEB,weblink Electric Power Annual, 4.3. Existing capacity by energy source, November 7, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, The country is the second-largest producer and consumer of electricity, behind China. Natural gas overtook coal as the dominant source for electric generation in 2016. While coal use has been dropping, it remained larger than either nuclear or renewables.

History

(File:US Energy Consumption historical percap.png|thumb|upright=1.6|Per capita energy use by source)(File:US Energy Consumption historical percent.png|thumb|upright=1.6|Percent energy use by source)From its founding until the late 19th century, population and energy use in the United States both increased by about 3% per year,WEB,weblink Bicentennial Edition: Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, p8, September 1975, US Census, April 14, 2023, WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, Appendix D1 Estimated primary energy consumption in the United States, selected years, 1635–1945, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, resulting in a relatively constant per capita energy use of 100 million BTU. Wood made up the majority of this until near the end of the 1800s, meaning the average American burned eight tons of wood each year.WEB, Stelzer, Hank, Wood Fuel for Heating,weblink 2023-04-13, extension.missouri.edu, en, The Industrial Revolution in the United States saw an increased use of coal. By the late 1800s, it surpassed wood as the major source of energy, as it was cheaper for those living in cities. Lighting, heating and transportation could all be fueled by coal.WEB, Adams, Sean Patrick, The US Coal Industry in the Nineteenth Century,weblink 2023-04-13, EH.net, Between 1925 and 1975, coal use was more stagnant, although it dominated the growing electricity sector. Petroleum and natural gas took its place, as car ownership doubled in the two decades (Economic history of the United States#Post-World War II prosperity: 1945–1973|after the war),WEB,weblink Transportation Energy Data Book, p85, June 2022, ORNL, April 14, 2023, and as the number of pipelines rose dramatically.WEB,weblink Age of Natural Gas Pipelines, Pipeline Safety Trust, April 14, 2023, During the first half of the 20th century, per capita energy use doubled to 200 million BTU, and reached 300 million BTU by the late 60s. After a peak of 360 million BTU in 1979, per capita consumption generally declined, and dipped below 300 million BTU in 2020.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 1.7 Primary energy consumption, energy expenditures, and carbon dioxide emissions indicators, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, In comparison, the world average increased from {{convert|68|to|74|e6BTU|abbr=unit}} per person between 1980 and 2020.Domestic oil production peaked in 1970 and would not recover for 40 years. However, oil imports allowed consumption to double. Oil represented the vast majority of net imports during this time. Increased reliance on imported oil coincided with the 1973 oil crisis.Total imports peaked in 2005, when they represented 30% of total consumption. A consistent decline occurred over the next 15 years, as oil production doubled and domestic use receded. This allowed the United States to be a net exporter of energy for the first time in 70 years. As of 2021, the US net exports 3.9% of energy production.WEB,weblink U.S. energy facts explained, Imports & Exports, June 10, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, Around 2010, many other trends began to reverse. By 2020, improvements in fracking had allowed natural gas production to increase by more than half,NEWS, Kemp, John, 2022-11-23, Column: Is the U.S. shale oil revolution over?, Reuters,weblink 2023-04-13, while coal decreased by half.Renewables in the 20th century consisted mainly of hydro and wood. Hydro power had been relatively constant since 1970, while wood saw a bump in 1980. Between 2000 and 2020, wind, solar and biofuels increased by a factor of ten. By 2020, wind had surpassed hydro, and biofuels had surpassed wood.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 10.1 Production and consumption by source, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023,

Summary

{|! Nuclear 8%| 100% Electricity! Renewable{{br}}12%|  6.9% Residential{{br}} 2.6% Commercial{{br}}19.6% Industrial{{br}}12.3% Transport{{br}}58.6% Electricity! {{nowrap|Natural gas}}{{br}}32%! Coal{{br}}11%|  0.1% Commercial{{br}} 9.8% Industrial{{br}}90.0% Electricity! Petroleum{{br}}36%|  2.6% Residential{{br}} 2.4% Commercial{{br}}25.0% Industrial{{br}}69.3% Transport{{br}} 0.6% Electricity

{| class="wikitable"|+US energy consumption{{br}}by source (2021)! Source !! % of source

10.8% Commercial}}{{br}}33.4% Industrial{{br}} 3.9% Transport{{br}}36.5% Electricity

{| class="wikitable"|+US electricity{{br}}by source and sector (2021)! Source !! Electricity !! Sector| 22.2% Nuclear{{br}}19.5% Renewable{{br}}31.7% Natural gas{{br}}26.0% Coal{{br}} 0.6% Petroleum!Sales{{br}}35%Losses{{br}}65%| 38.9% Residential{{br}}34.9% Commercial{{br}}26.0% Industrial{{br}}0.02% TransportFile:US Energy 2022.png | upright=1.75 | thumb | center | US energy flow, 2022. Note the loss of waste energy due to the nature of heat engineheat engine! Residential{{br}}21%! Commercial{{br}}18%|  1.8% Renewable{{br}}19.7% Natural gas{{br}} 0.1% Coal{{br}} 4.8% Petroleum{{br}}73.6% Electricity! Industrial{{br}}33%|  7.3% Renewable{{br}}32.6% Natural gas{{br}} 3.2% Coal{{br}}27.2% Petroleum{{br}}29.7% Electricity! Transport {{br}}  28%Electricity only includes mass transit.WEB,weblink Energy use for Transport, June 17, 2022, EIA, May 2, 2023, |  5.5% Renewable{{br}} 4.5% Natural gas{{br}}89.8% Petroleum{{br}}0.2% Electricity

{| class="wikitable"|+US energy consumption{{br}}by sector (2021)! Sector !! % of sector

23.5% Natural gas}}{{br}} 4.5% Petroleum{{br}}68.0% Electricity

Primary energy production

(File:US Energy Production 2021 Major.png|thumb|Overall energy sourcesWEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 1.2 Primary energy production by source, March 28, 2023access-date = April 14, 2023, )The United States is the world's second-largest producer of energy. It produces 16% of the world's energy, about three-fourths as much as China. Since 2019, the country has been a net exporter of energy. In 2021, 97.8 quads were produced and net exports were 3.9% of production.

Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels have long produced most energy in the US, currently accounting for 79% of total production and 61% of electric generation. Although costs for some fossil fuels are declining, renewables are becoming cheaper faster.WEB,weblink Why did renewables become so cheap so fast?, December 1, 2020, EIA, June 30, 2023, Despite this, use of fossil fuels has remained near 80% for the past 30 years.The vast majority of carbon emissions in the US came from fossil fuels.WEB,weblink Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, April 28, 2023, EPA, June 30, 2023, The largest sources for carbon pollution from energy were petroleum (46%), natural gas (35%) and coal (19%),WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 11.1 By source, April 25, 2023, EIA, June 30, 2023, and of petroleum, motor gasoline (21%) and diesel (12%) were the largest contributors. As gas has been replacing coal, emissions from the two combined have declined from a peak in 2008, down 25% as of 2021. During the same time frame, petroleum declined by only 17%.

Coal

{{see also|List of coal-fired power stations in the United States}}Coal made up 11% of production in 2021, 90% of which went to producing electricity. Coal electrified rapidly throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s and half of annual electricity was from coal until the 2010s. Coal peaked in 2006, when it represented a third of total energy production. During the 2010s it underwent a steady decline, mostly being replaced by natural gas. In contrast, net exports have remained near 2 quads in the same time period, but this now amounts to 17% of total production.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 1.4c Primary energy net imports by source, June 27, 2023, EIA, June 29, 2023, The decline of coal has many factors, including the aforementioned rise of natural gas, the closing of old plants, and environmental regulations.WEB,weblink What Is Killing the US Coal Industry?, March 1, 2017, SIEPR, June 29, 2023, Coal supply has not become an issue, as the US has the largest coal reserve in the world, 40% larger than Russia.The first DC plant in the US was a coal plant in New York City, opened in 1882. The first AC plant was a coal plant in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, opened in 1902.WEB,weblink History of U.S. Coal Use, energybc.ca, June 29, 2023, Among the largest plants still operating is the James H. Miller Jr. Electric Generating Plant in West Jefferson, AlabamaWEB,weblink Alabama coal plant still the largest greenhouse gas emitter in United States, December 6, 2022, al.com, June 29, 2023, and among the oldest is the James E. Rogers Energy Complex in Mooresboro, North Carolina.WEB,weblink Rogers Energy Complex, Duke Energy, June 29, 2023,

Natural gas

{{see also|List of natural gas-fired power stations in the United States}}(File:US Natural Gas.webp|thumb|US natural gas production, imports, and exports)(File:Natural gas production and price.webp|thumb|Natural gas production by field)Dry natural gas was 36% of production in 2021, making it the largest source of energy in the US. It is also the largest electricity source, making up 38% of generation. Natural gas surpassed coal for production in 2011 and for generation in 2016. Between 2006 and 2022, the US has gone from net importing 4 quads of natural gas to exporting 4 quads.The United States has been the world's largest producer of natural gas since 2011, when it surpassed Russia. However, the US ranks 7th in proven reserves. Differences in supply explain why gas is cheaper in the US than it is in Europe.WEB,weblink Global natural gas prices vary considerably, September 30, 2011, EIA, June 29, 2023, Among the largest natural gas power plants in the US is West County Energy Center in Palm Beach County, Florida.WEB,weblink The 10 Biggest Power Plants in the U.S., September 9, 2022, arnolditkin.com, June 29, 2023, Philadelphia had the first natural gas distributor in the US.WEB,weblink A Brief History of Natural Gas, arnolditkin.com, June 29, 2023, Natural gas liquids are liquid hydrocarbons obtained from natural gas fields. Production has tripled from 2000 to 2022, now making up 9% of fossil fuels. The US leads the world in NGL production, ahead of Saudi Arabia.During the 2023-24 winter heating season in the United States, natural gas inventories ended at 2,290 billion cubic feet (Bcf), 39% above the five-year average, due to mild weather resulting in reduced consumption. Withdrawals from storage were approximately 1,500 Bcf, lower than the usual 2,000 Bcf. By March 2024, the Henry Hub spot price had decreased to $1.50 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), significantly below the forecasted $3.10/MMBtu, with expectations of prices staying below $2.00/MMBtu until the second half of 2024, averaging $2.20/MMBtu for the yearWEB, EIA, U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024-04-11, Mild winter weather may lead to persistently high natural gas inventories through 2025,weblink 14 April 2024, www.eia.gov,

Petroleum

(File:US oil production, imports, & exports.webp|thumb|US oil production, imports, and exports)Crude oil made up 24% of production in 2021. Oil has more than doubled from a slump in the early 2000s, even surpassing its previous peak in 1970. Imports have declined during the same time period, but the US still net imports 20% of consumption.The US has been the largest producer of crude oil since 2018, ahead of Saudi Arabia. Texas produces far more oil than any other state.WEB,weblink Oil and petroleum products explained, September 16, 2022, EIA, June 29, 2023,

Nuclear

(File:WSUReactorCore.JPG | thumb|Cherenkov radiation)Nuclear power was 8.3% of total production and 18.8% of electric generation in 2021. Seven states made up half the total: Illinois (12%), Pennsylvania (10%), South Carolina (7%), Alabama (6%), North Carolina (6%), Texas (5%) and Tennessee (5%). The US generated 772 TWh of nuclear power in 2022, surpassing China (395 TWh) and France (282 TWh). However, nuclear power constitutes a much smaller percentage of total power generation (18%) when compared to France (63%).WEB,weblink Nuclear Share of Electricity Generation in 2021, May 14, 2023, EIA, May 15, 2023, Nuclear had significant growth from the 70s through the 90s, but has stagnated since. A cessation of new nuclear plant construction coincided with the accident at Three Mile Island.WEB,weblink Three Mile Island represented the power and peril of nuclear energy. Now it's closed., September 26, 2019, Washington Post, May 15, 2023, Future growth may come from smaller reactors.WEB,weblink Nuclear industry hopes to expand output with new reactors, June 21, 2022, AP News, May 15, 2023, Among the largest nuclear plants in the US are Grand Gulf in Claiborne County, Mississippi and Peach Bottom in York County, Pennsylvania.WEB,weblink Leading nuclear power reactors in operation worldwide as of December 2021, by gross capacity, August 1, 2022, Statista, June 30, 2023, The oldest reactor still in commercial operation is Nine Mile Point in Scriba, New York.WEB,weblink How old are U.S. nuclear power plants, and when was the newest one built?, March 7, 2022, EIA, June 30, 2023,

Renewables

(File:US Energy Production 2021 Renewable.png|thumb|Renewable energy sources)Renewable energy in the United States accounted for 12.5% of the total production in 2021, and 20.7% of electric generation. The category has seen rapid growth, doubling in total output between 2000 and 2020. They have exceeded nuclear since 2011 and surpassed coal in 2020 for the first time since wood fuel fell out of use.Renewables are expected to continue growing.WEB,weblink EIA projects that renewable generation will supply 44% of U.S. electricity by 2050, December 8, 2022, EIA, May 15, 2023, Because many of these are variable renewable energy, there are plans for considerable growth in battery storage.WEB,weblink U.S. battery storage capacity will increase significantly by 2025, March 18, 2022, EIA, May 15, 2023,

Biomass

File:Lincolnway Energy ethanol plant.jpg | thumb | Ethanol plant in Nevada, IowaNevada, IowaFile:WOOD CHIP BURNER AT NIGHT - NARA - 543002.jpg | thumb | Wood burner in Scotia, CaliforniaScotia, California{{see also|Biofuel in the United States}}Biomass made up 5% of total production and 38% of renewables in 2022. About 49% of this was biofuels, 43% was wood, and 8% was waste and other biomass.Ethanol made up the majority of biofuels in 2022, while biodiesel and renewable diesel made up about 16%. For ethanol, about 40% of the available energy is lost or diverted to co-products during the manufacturing process,WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 10.3 Fuel ethanol overview, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 15, 2023, and the equivalent of 20% is used to power and run the equipment.WEB,weblink 2018 MECS Survey Data, 5.2 By Manufacturing Industry with Net Electricity p64, February 23, 2021, EIA, April 15, 2023, About 45% of domestic corn output goes toward producing ethanol.WEB,weblink Feed Grains Sector at a Glance, January 27, 2023, USDA ERS, April 29, 2023, The US led the world in ethanol production in 2021, producing more than half of the total.WEB,weblink World Fuel Ethanol Production by Region, RFA, April 15, 2023, The US is a net exporter of biofuels.Use of biofuels increased by a factor of 10 between 2000 and 2020, eventually exceeding wood. The desire for ethanol originated from the need to replace methyl tert-butyl ether, which was contaminating groundwater.WEB,weblink Short-Term Energy Outlook, 2001: MTBE Production Economics, April 2001, EIA, April 15, 2023, The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated an increased use of ethanol.WEB,weblink History of Ethanol Production and Policy, ag.ndsu.edu, April 15, 2023, Most gasoline sold in the US contains up to 10% ethanol.WEB,weblink Ethanol Blendsaccess-date = April 15, 2023, Industry uses two-thirds of the wood fuel in the US, while the residential sector uses about a quarter. Wood and paper factories use wood waste on-site to reduce their energy costs. About 9% of homes used firewood in 2020.WEB,weblink Biomass explaineddate = June 2, 2022 access-date = April 15, 2023, Wood made up the majority of energy consumption until near the end of the 1800s, after which it declined in total use for several decades, to about half its peak. The 80s saw the first significant increase in over a century, of about 65%, before declining again by the 2010s.

Geothermal

File:McGinness Hills 1&2 Snow.jpg | thumb | McGinness Hills in Nevada]]Two-thirds of the geothermal energy in the US in 2021 was electric, with the remainder being direct use and heat pumps.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 10.2c Consumption: transportation and electric power sectors, April 25, 2023, EIA, May 12, 2023, Geothermal power made up 2% of renewable generation, 70% of which came from California. The Geysers is the largest complex of geothermal energy production in the world.WEB,weblink Largest Geothermal Power Plants In The World, April 25, 2017, World Atlas, May 12, 2023, The US ranks first in geothermal capacity, ahead of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Hydro

File:Grand Coulee Dam.jpg | thumb | Grand Coulee DamGrand Coulee DamHydro made up 6% of electric generation and 29% of renewable generation in 2021. Three states made up over half of the total: Washington (29%), New York (12%) and Oregon (11%). Overall 246 TWh were generated across 1,449 conventional plants and 40 pumped storage plants.WEB,weblink Electric Power Annual, 4.1. Count of electric power industry power plants, by sector, by predominant energy sources within plant, November 7, 2022, EIA, April 29, 2023, As of 2021, the US fourth in the world in total hydroelectric generation behind Canada and Brazil (each generating over 350 TWh), while China took first with an estimated 1,300 TWh.WEB,weblink Country Rankings, March 25, 2023, IRENA, April 29, 2023, Hydro has been used in the US since 1880 when it powered the Wolverine Chair factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan.WEB,weblink Hydropower explained, Hydropower has a long history, April 20, 2023, EIA, April 29, 2023, By 1950, 29% of total electricity production came from hydro, as it produced 96 TWh. Hydro generation had tripled by the 70s, but has not consistently grown since. Hydro has had large flucuations from year to year: for example in 2010, generation jumped from 253 to 311 TWh the next year, before dropping to 269 TWh the year after that. While hydro has maintained generation in the 200 to 350 TWh range for the past few decades, its share of the total has declined as other sources have risen. Since 2019, wind power has exceeded hydro as the largest renewable electricity source.At 132 years old, the plant in Whiting, Wisconsin is the oldest power plant still running in the US. The Grand Coulee Dam is the largest plant for hydro and in general in the US, and the fifth-largest hydro plant in the world. Built in Washington in 1942, it continues to operate with a capacity of 6,765 MW. The Bath County Pumped Storage Station is the second-largest such facility in the world, with a capacity of 3,003 MW.WEB,weblink Largest pumped storage plants in operation and development, May 13, 2020, NS Energy, April 29, 2023,

Solar

File:Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System Tower.jpg | thumb | Concentrated solar thermal plant (Ivanpah Solar)]]Solar made up 4% of electric generation and 19% of renewable generation in 2021. Of the 164 TWh generated, 70% was by utilities and an estimated 30% was small-scale such as rooftop solar.WEB,weblink Electric Power Annual, 3.1.A. Net generation by energy source: Total (all sectors), November 7, 2022, EIA, May 5, 2023, Three states made up over half of total grid generation: California (30%), Texas (13%) and North Carolina (9%). In 2021, the US grid produced the second most solar power in the world, behind China's 328 GWh.Since 2006, solar has been the fastest growing energy source in the US, expanding 50% per year on average. The largest solar farms in the US include Solar Star in Rosamond, California, Desert Sunlight in Desert Center, California and Copper Mountain in Boulder City, Nevada.WEB,weblink Form EIA-923 detailed data, April 27, 2023, EIA, May 12, 2023, The Bureau of Land Management leases federal land to be used for solar farms.WEB,weblink Solar Energy Zones, BLM, May 12, 2023, Almost all states employ net metering to compensate owners of small-scale solar, although policies by state vary considerably.WEB,weblink 2022 UPDATE: Which states offer net metering?, April 1, 2022, Solar Power World, May 15, 2023,

Wind

File:Spruce Mt Wind in Fall.jpg | thumb | Wind turbines in MaineMaineWind made up 9% of electric generation and 44% of renewable generation in 2021. Four states made up over half of the total: Texas (26%), Iowa (10%), California (9%) and Kansas (7%). The US grid produces significantly more wind power than Germany or India, but less than half of China.Since 1998, wind power has grown 23% per year on average in the US. Prominent areas for wind turbines include Alta Wind in Kern County, California, Shepherds Flat in Gilliam County, Oregon and Roscoe Wind Farm in Nolan County, Texas.

Final energy consumption

(File:Consumption sector treemap.png | thumb|Consumption by sector){{Image frame|width=300|content=(File:Oil refinery in Houston 2018a.jpg|150px)(File:Minneapolis neighborhood Near North (52247881193).jpg|150px)(File:2007 Toyota RAV4 V6 AWD.jpg|150px)(File:Federal Office Building Oak Ridge (7071647423).jpg|150px)align=right}}Industry has long been the country's largest energy sector.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 2.1a Energy consumption: Residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, April 25, 2023, EIA, May 2, 2023, WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 2.1b Energy consumption: Transportation sector, total end-use sectors, and electric power sector, April 25, 2023, EIA, May 2, 2023, It used 33% of total energy in 2021, most of which was divided evenly between natural gas, electricity and petroleum. A survey from 2018 estimated that the largest energy users were the chemical industry (30%), petroleum and coal processing (18%), mining (9%) and paper (9%).WEB,weblink Energy use in industry, June 13, 2022, EIA, May 3, 2023, The most energy-intensive industry was by far petroleum and coal, at over 30 billion BTU per employee. The paper industry was second at 6.5 billion BTU per employee. Each of these handles energy sources as part of their raw materials (fossil fuels and wood).WEB,weblink 2018 MECS Survey Data, Table 6.1 By Manufacturing Industry and Region, August 27, 2021, EIA, May 3, 2023, The same survey found that half of the electric use was to drive machines, and about 10% each for heating, cooling and electro-chemical processes. Most of the remainder was for factory lighting and HVAC. About half of the natural gas was for process heating, and most of the rest was for boilers.WEB,weblink 2018 MECS Survey Data, Table 5.4 By Manufacturing Industry with Total Consumption of Electricity, August 27, 2021, EIA, May 3, 2023, Transportation used 28% of energy, almost all of which was petroleum and other fuels. Half of the combustible fuels that make up the transportation sector were gasoline, and half of the vehicle usage was for cars and small trucks.WEB,weblink Energy use for transportation, 1.1 Primary energy overview, June 28, 2022, EIA, May 3, 2023, Diesel and heavier trucks each made up about a quarter of their respective categories; jet fuel and aircraft were about a tenth each. Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel made up 5%, while natural gas was 4%. Electricity from mass transit was 0.2%; electricity for light passenger vehicles is counted in other sectors, but figures from the US Department of Energy estimate that 2.1 million electric vehicles used 6.1 TWh to travel 19 billion miles, indicating an average fuel efficiency of 3.1 miles per kWh.WEB,weblink US: In 2021, Plug-Ins Traveled 19 Billion Miles On Electricity, November 29, 2022, InsideEVs, August 6, 2023, Over two-thirds of the energy used by homes, offices, and other commercial businesses is electric, including electric losses.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 2.2 Residential sector energy consumption, April 25, 2023, EIA, May 3, 2023, WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 2.3 Commercial sector energy consumption, April 25, 2023, EIA, May 3, 2023, Most of the energy used in homes was for space heating (34%) and water heating (19%), much more than the amount used for space cooling (16%) and refrigeration (7%). Assuming electric losses of about 65%. WEB,weblink Energy use in homes, June 14, 2022, EIA, May 3, 2023, Businesses use similar percentages for space cooling and refrigeration. They use less for space and water heating, but more for lighting and cooking.Assuming ventilation is roughly proportional for heating and cooling. WEB,weblink 2018 CBECS Survey Data, End-use consumption, December 21, 2022, EIA, May 3, 2023, Most homes in the US are single-family detached,WEB,weblink Table HC9.1 Household demographics of U.S. homes by housing unit type, 2015, May 2018, EIA, May 3, 2023, which on average use almost triple the energy of apartments in larger buildings.WEB,weblink 2015 RECS Survey Data, CE1.1 Summary consumption and expenditures in the U.S. - totals and intensities, May 2018, EIA, May 3, 2023, However, single family households have 50% more persons and triple the floor space. Usage per square foot of living space is roughly equal for most housing types except small apartment buildings and mobile homes. Small apartments are more likely to be older than other housing types,WEB,weblink Table HC2.3 Structural and geographic characteristics of U.S. homes by year of construction, 2015, May 2018, EIA, May 3, 2023, while mobile homes tend to have poor insulation.WEB,weblink Table HC2.1 Structural and geographic characteristics of U.S. homes by housing unit type, 2015, May 2018, EIA, May 3, 2023,

Regional variation

The state with the lowest per capita energy use is Rhode Island, at 161 million BTU per year, and the highest is Louisiana, at 908 million BTU per year. Energy use and prices often have an inverse relationship; Hawaii uses some of the least energy per capita but pays the highest price on average, while Louisiana pays the least on average.WEB,weblink State Energy Data System, Consumption: Total energy consumption per capita by end-use sector, June 24, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, Residential prices follow a similar trend, but the differences between states are usually less drastic. The exception is Hawaii, which pays 84 cents per million BTU, more than double the next largest state of Florida, which pays 33 cents.WEB,weblink State Energy Data System, Prices and Expenditures: Prices Total End-use, June 24, 2022, EIA, May 15, 2023, Household energy use varies by home type and by region. Although single-family detached homes are less common in the Northeast, the average house there uses 60% more energy than one in the West. Some of the regional differences can be explained by climate, as two-thirds of northeastern homes are in cold regions, while less than a third of western homes are.WEB,weblink 2015 RECS Survey Data, CE1.2 Summary consumption and expenditures in the Northeast - totals and intensities, May 2018, EIA, May 15, 2023, WEB,weblink 2015 RECS Survey Data, CE1.5 Summary consumption and expenditures in the West - totals and intensities, May 2018, EIA, May 15, 2023, File:Average energy percap.png | Overall use per capitaFile:Residential Energy Consumption per Capita.png | Home use per capitaFile:Overall energy price.png | Overall price per million BTUFile:Residential Energy Price.png | Home price per million BTUThe 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).WEB,weblink Location Efficiency and Housing Type: Boiling It Down to BTUs, April 18, 2023, EIA, May 15, 2023,

Electricity

(File:US Electricity treemap.png | thumb|Generation by source)The United States is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of electricity. It generates 15% of the world's electricity supply, about half as much as China.WEB,weblink International, Electricity, EIA, April 14, 2023, The United States produced 3,988 TWh in 2021. Total generation has been flat since 2010. Net electricity imports were 39 TWh, or about 1% of sales. Historically, net imports have been between just under 0% to just over 1.5%.Fossil fuels made up the majority of generation, with natural gas providing 38% and coal 23%. Petroleum provided less than 1%. Natural gas as a proportion of fossil fuels has been increasing since the 90's, with coal peaking around 2008 and natural gas becoming the top fossil fuel in 2016.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 7.2a Total (all sectors), March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, Nuclear provided 20%, a level consistent since about 1990. Nuclear surpassed coal in 2020 for the first time, as coal dipped to its lowest proportion in over 70 years.Among renewables, wind and solar continued to expand, with wind exceeding hydro since 2019. Renewable use has doubled from 2010 to 2020, reaching 21% of total generation.File:US electricity monthly.png |Monthly TWh by sourceFile:US electricity renewable monthly.png | Monthly TWh by renewable sourceFile:US Electricity yearly.png | Yearly TWh by sourceFile:US Electricity renewable yearly.png | Yearly TWh by renewable source

Grid capacity

{{see also|North American power transmission grid}}The United States had a nameplate generation capacity of 1,213 GW in 2021. The following table summarizes the electrical energy generated by fuel source for the United States grid in 2021. Figures account for generation losses, but not transmission losses. Fission had the highest capacity factor, while petroleum had the lowest.The US grid first connected East and West in 1967.WEB,weblink When the Grid Was the Grid: The History of North America’s Brief Coast-to-Coast Interconnected Machine, January 1, 2019, ieee.org, June 30, 2023, There are over 7,300 power plants and almost 160,000 miles of high voltage lines.WEB,weblink U.S. Electricity Grid & Markets, April 18, 2023, EPA, June 30, 2023, {|{{table alignment}}{| class="wikitable sortable col1left" style="text-align:center"|+ US electric grid capacity and generation in 2021!Source!Capacity(GW)!Generation(TWh)!Capacityfactor| 30%| 45%| 89%| 32%| 35%| 21%|  6%| 22%| 45%class="sortbottom"! Total || 1,213 || 3,988 || 37%File:Plant map all.png | Electric plants by capacityFile:Plant map Natural Gas.png | Natural Gas plants by capacityFile:Plant map Coal.png | Coal plants by capacityFile:Plant map Fission.png | Fission plants by capacityFile:Plant map Wind.png | Wind plants by capacityFile:Plant map Hydro.png | Hydro plants by capacityFile:Plant map Solar.png | Solar plants by capacityFile:Plant map Biomass.png | Biomass plants by capacityFile:Plant map Petroleum.png | Petroleum plants by capacityFile:Plant map Geothermal.png | Geothermal plants by capacity

Generation by state

(File:State generation treemap.png | upright=1.1|thumb | Generation by state and source)The following figures offer detail into the sources of generation used in each state.WEB,weblink Historical State Data, Net Generation by State by Type of Producer by Energy Source, March 8, 2023, EIA, April 14, 2023, Most often, natural gas is the largest source in a given state, with 22 states using it more than any other. Among renewable sources, 18 states use wind power more than any other.Though not always the most prominent source, each state will use at least one source at a rate above the national average. Twelve states use nuclear power more than average, and California and Hawaii each use more solar and petroleum, respectively.Texas contributes more to the grid than any other state, followed by Florida, Pennsylvania and California. On net, Pennsylvania exports the most power, while California imports the most.File:State electric major.png | Largest generation sourceFile:State electric major renew.png | Largest renewable generation sourceFile:State electric salient.png | Most over-represented sourceFile:State net electric import.png | Net electricity imports/exports

Electric consumption

(File:Electric pct Resid.png|thumb|Home electrification)Electric grid consumption in the US was 3,806 TWh in 2021. Since 2010, total consumption has remained within 2% of this figure. Per capita consumption was 11.5 MWh in 2021, down 8% from its peak in 2007.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 7.6 Electricity end use, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, Appendix C1 Population, U.S. gross domestic product, and U.S. gross output, March 28, 2022access-date = April 14, 2023, Residential customers used 39% of total electricity. Each month, the average customer used 886 kWh and paid $121 at an average rate of 13.7 cents/kWh.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 9.8 Average prices of electricity to ultimate customers, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, The commercial sector used 35% and industrial used 26%. Transportation used less than half of one percent.System loss within the grid includes use in the generation process and transmission losses, as well as unaccounted loads. For 2021, this amounted to 203 TWh, or 5.3% of grid generation. Electricity used directly at the commercial or industrial level added 139 TWh, so total consumption was 3,945 TWh.WEB,weblink Monthly Energy Review, 7.1 Overview, March 28, 2022, EIA, April 14, 2023, The northeastern US has long paid the highest electricity prices, while simultaneously using it the least per capita.WEB,weblink Historical State Data, EIA-861 Annual Electric Power Industry Report, April 27, 2023, EIA, May 15, 2023, California is an outlier in the west region; its neighbors tend to pay some of the lowest rates in the country, while California is second only to Hawaii and Alaska.File:Average electric percap.png | Overall use per capitaFile:Residential electric percap.png | Home use per capitaFile:Average electric prices.png | Overall price per kWhFile:Residential electric prices.png | Home price per kWh

See also

• Energy conservation in the United States
• Energy policy of the United States
• World energy resources
• World energy consumption
• List of countries by energy consumption and production
• List of U.S. states by electricity production from renewable sources

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• Energy Information Administration
• Transportation Energy Data Book

{{Energy in the USA}}{{North America topic|Energy in}}{{United States topics}}{{World topic|Energy in|noredlinks=yes}}__FORCETOC__