Us Energy Consumption By Energy Source 2017
Energy policy may include legislation international treaties subsidies and incentives to investment guidelines for energy conservation taxation and other.
Us energy consumption by energy source 2017. The use of renewable energy has risen from 9 30 in 1949 to 11 44 in 2019 and the use of nuclear energy has risen to 8 45 in 2019 from 0 01 in 1960. After record high energy production and consumption in 2018 u s. Energy consumption estimates by sector trillion btu. January to may 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016.
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. Biomass consumption primarily in the form of transportation fuels such as fuel ethanol and biodiesel accounted for 45 of all. Wind electricity consumption increased by 8 while solar consumption rose 22. Energy consumption by source and sector chart to separate the electric power sector from the four end use sectors.
Fossil fuels accounted for 80 of total energy consumption in 2019 down from 90 68 in 1949. Consumption of coal decreased by 9 nearly offsetting increases in the consumption of renewables petroleum natural gas and nuclear fuel. From its founding until the late 19th century the united states was a largely agrarian country with abundant forests. Energy production exceeded u s.
Energy information administration eia has redesigned its u s. The energy policy of the united states is determined by federal state and local entities in the united states which address issues of energy production distribution and consumption such as building codes and gas mileage standards. We will now take a look at the current state of energy production and consumption in the us followed by a brief examination of the renewable and alternative energy sources. Renewable energy consumption in the united states reached a record high 11 5 quadrillion btu in 2018 rising 3 from 2017 largely driven by the addition of new wind and solar power plants.
The following pie chart figure 4 shows the united states energy consumption by source in 2019. Energy consumption on an annual basis for the first time since 1957. Primary energy consumption in the united states in 2016 totaled 97 4 quadrillion british thermal units btu a slight increase from the 2015 level.