Fossil fuels continue to dominate the share of US energy production and consumption. Last year, approximately 79% of the energy produced in the US was from fossil fuels, and 80% of the energy consumed in the US originated from fossil fuels, data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed.
Fossil fuels’ share in US energy production peaked 93% in 1966. The production of fossil fuels continues to rise, but the production of other energy sources also increases, decreasing fossil fuels’ share to 80% over the past decade. Production of crude oil, dry natural gas, and NGPL (natural gas plant liquids) in the US has risen by 12, 11, and 3 quadrillion Btu, respectively since 2008. This increase has offset coal production, which has declined by 9 quadrillion Btu.
Petroleum dominated the share of US energy trade in 2018. It accounted for about 86% of energy imports and 67% of energy exports that year. US refineries imported crude oil to be processed into refined products which were then sold in the overseas market. Last year, the US registered the lowest energy net imports since 1963.
Fossil fuels’ share in US energy consumption has fallen from its peak of 94% in 1966. The total amount of consumed fossil fuels reached its peak of 86 quadrillion Btu in 2007. Coal consumption lowered by 10 quadrillion Btu and petroleum by 2 quadrillion Btu ever since, but natural gas consumption increased by 7 quadrillion Btu.
