Fossil fuels accounted for 78.51% of total American energy consumption in 2022, down from 90.68% in 1949. The use of renewable energy has fallen from 9.30% in 1949 to 8.09% in 2022, and the use of nuclear energy has risen to 8.05% in 2022 from 0.01% in 1960. Below find charts showing how much of each type of energy the United States was used from 1949 to 2022, both in percentage of total energy use and quadrillion Btu.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “A British thermal unit (Btu) is a measure of the heat content of fuels or energy sources. It is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at the temperature that water has its greatest density (approximately 39 degrees Fahrenheit).”
For individual state data, please see “State-by-State Energy Use.”
Fossil Fuel Energy as % of Total Energy Consumption
| Year | Coal | Natural Gas | Petroleum | Total Fossil Fuels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9.85% | 31.41% | 35.32% | 78.51% |
| 2021 | 10.55% | 31.69% | 35.24% | 77.43% |
| 2020 | 9.18% | 31.58% | 32.33% | 73.08% |
| 2019 | 11.30% | 32.04% | 3.67% | 80.00% |
| 2018 | 13.11% | 30.75% | 3.65% | 80.32% |
| 2017 | 14.18% | 28.74% | 3.69% | 79.83% |
| 2016 | 14.62% | 29.18% | 3.67% | 80.46% |
| 2015 | 15.97% | 28.95% | 3.63% | 81.22% |
| 2014 | 18.31% | 27.86% | 3.53% | 81.42% |
| 2013 | 18.57% | 27.60% | 3.54% | 81.58% |
| 2012 | 18.41% | 27.64% | 3.59% | 81.91% |
| 2011 | 20.30% | 25.77% | 3.58% | 81.83% |
| 2010 | 21.36% | 25.20% | 3.62% | 82.78% |
| 2009 | 20.96% | 24.93% | 3.70% | 82.88% |
| 2008 | 22.67% | 24.14% | 3.72% | 84.09% |
| 2007 | 22.55% | 23.45% | 3.90% | 85.05% |
| 2006 | 22.58% | 22.37% | 4.00% | 85.00% |
| 2005 | 22.77% | 22.54% | 4.018% | 85.54% |
| 2004 | 22.47% | 22.92% | 4.01% | 85.66% |
| 2003 | 22.81% | 23.34% | 3.96% | 85.77% |
| 2002 | 22.46% | 24.10% | 3.91% | 85.70% |
| 2001 | 22.81% | 23.71% | 3.96% | 86.19% |
| 2000 | 22.88% | 24.14% | 3.87% | 85.73% |
| 1999 | 22.40% | 23.73% | 3.91% | 85.27% |
| 1998 | 22.81% | 24.05% | 3.87% | 85.62% |
| 1997 | 22.69% | 24.57% | 3.82% | 85.47% |
| 1996 | 22.36% | 24.58% | 3.79% | 84.84% |
| 1995 | 22.09% | 24.93% | 3.78% | 84.86% |
| 1994 | 22.37% | 24.42% | 3.87% | 85.58% |
| 1993 | 22.73% | 24.33% | 3.85% | 85.58% |
| 1992 | 22.31% | 24.16% | 3.90% | 85.55% |
| 1991 | 22.51% | 23.74% | 3.89% | 85.12% |
| 1990 | 22.71% | 23.22% | 3.97% | 85.61% |
| 1989 | 22.50% | 23.13% | 4.03% | 85.99% |
| 1988 | 22.80% | 22.32% | 4.13% | 86.51% |
| 1987 | 22.79% | 22.33% | 4.15% | 86.67% |
| 1986 | 22.53% | 21.66% | 4.20% | 86.14% |
| 1985 | 22.90% | 23.19% | 4.04% | 86.51% |
| 1984 | 22.29% | 24.02% | 4.05% | 86.78% |
| 1983 | 21.80% | 23.62% | 4.11% | 86.53% |
| 1982 | 20.98% | 25.13% | 4.13% | 87.39% |
| 1981 | 20.92% | 25.96% | 4.19% | 88.78% |
| 1980 | 19.77% | 25.94% | 4.38% | 89.44% |
| 1979 | 18.61% | 25.57% | 4.59% | 90.14% |
| 1978 | 17.23% | 25.03% | 4.75% | 89.87% |
| 1977 | 17.87% | 25.58% | 4.76% | 91.05% |
| 1976 | 17.89% | 26.79% | 4.63% | 90.96% |
| 1975 | 17.60% | 27.73% | 4.55% | 90.81% |
| 1974 | 17.13% | 29.40% | 4.52% | 91.81% |
| 1973 | 17.15% | 29.76% | 4.60% | 92.90% |
| 1972 | 16.62% | 31.24% | 4.53% | 93.13% |
| 1971 | 16.75% | 32.44% | 4.41% | 93.23% |
| 1970 | 18.08% | 32.14% | 4.35% | 93.64% |
| 1969 | 18.88% | 31.52% | 4.32% | 93.52% |
| 1968 | 19.76% | 30.78% | 4.32% | 93.73% |
| 1967 | 20.23% | 30.47% | 4.29% | 93.59 |
| 1966 | 21.32% | 29.84% | 4.27% | 93.85% |
| 1965 | 21.46% | 29.23% | 4.30% | 93.63% |
| 1964 | 21.18% | 29.54% | 4.30% | 93.68% |
| 1963 | 21.00% | 29.05% | 4.36% | 93.68% |
| 1962 | 20.74% | 28.74% | 4.40% | 93.42% |
| 1961 | 21.06% | 28.29% | 4.41% | 93.48% |
| 1960 | 21.84% | 27.50% | 4.41% | 93.45% |
| 1959 | 21.92% | 26.98% | 4.44% | 93.29% |
| 1958 | 22.91% | 25.63% | 4.44% | 92.96% |
| 1957 | 25.92% | 24.41% | 4.29% | 93.15% |
| 1956 | 27.20% | 23.04% | 4.29% | 93.13% |
| 1955 | 27.79% | 22.40% | 4.29% | 93.04% |
| 1954 | 26.53% | 22.75% | 4.32% | 92.46% |
| 1953 | 30.21% | 21.01% | 4.13% | 92.46% |
| 1952 | 30.79% | 20.56% | 4.07% | 91.97% |
| 1951 | 33.97% | 19.07% | 3.90% | 91.97% |
| 1950 | 35.69% | 17.25% | 3.84% | 91.38 |
| 1949 | 37.48% | 16.09% | 3.71% | 90.68% |
Renewable Energy as % of Total Energy Consumption
| Year | Hydroelectric | Geothermal | Solar | Wind | Biomass | Total Renewable Energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.89% | 0.12% | 0.76% | 1.48% | 4.83% | 8.09% |
| 2021 | 0.86% | 0.12% | 0.63% | 1.29% | 4.75% | 7.64% |
| 2020 | 0.97% | 0.12% | 0.51% | 1.15% | 4.54% | 7.30% |
| 2019 | 2.49% | 0.21% | 1.04% | 2.73% | 4.98% | 11.44% |
| 2018 | 2.63% | 0.21% | 0.91% | 2.46% | 4.98% | 11.18% |
| 2017 | 2.83% | 0.215% | 0.80% | 2.40% | 5.10% | 11.35% |
| 2016 | 2.54% | 0.215% | 0.59% | 2.15% | 5.15% | 10.65% |
| 2015 | 2.38% | 0.22% | 0.43% | 1.83% | 5.12% | 9.98% |
| 2014 | 2.51% | 0.22% | 0.34% | 1.76% | 5.08% | 9.91% |
| 2013 | 2.64% | 0.22% | 0.23% | 1.65% | 4.99% | 9.73% |
| 2012 | 2.79% | 0.22% | 0.17% | 1.42% | 4.78% | 9.37% |
| 2011 | 3.20% | 0.22% | 0.12% | 1.21% | 4.76% | 9.50% |
| 2010 | 2.60% | 0.21% | 0.09% | 0.95% | 4.62% | 8.48% |
| 2009 | 2.84% | 0.21% | 0.08% | 0.77% | 4.19% | 8.10% |
| 2008 | 2.54% | 0.19% | 0.08% | 0.55% | 3.90% | 7.27% |
| 2007 | 2.42% | 0.18% | 0.07% | 0.34% | 3.45% | 6.47% |
| 2006 | 2.89% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.27% | 3.28% | 6.68% |
| 2005 | 2.70% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.18% | 3.11% | 6.23% |
| 2004 | 2.69% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.14% | 3.01% | 6.07% |
| 2003 | 2.85% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.12% | 2.87% | 6.08% |
| 2002 | 2.76% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.11% | 2.77% | 5.87% |
| 2001 | 2.33% | 0.17% | 0.06% | 0.07% | 2.73% | 5.37% |
| 2000 | 2.85% | 0.17% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 3.05% | 6.18% |
| 1999 | 3.38% | 0.18% | 0.07% | 0.05% | 3.07% | 6.75% |
| 1998 | 3.47% | 0.18% | 0.07% | 0.03% | 3.08% | 6.84% |
| 1997 | 3.85% | 0.18% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 3.29% | 7.42% |
| 1996 | 3.82% | 0.17% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 3.36% | 7.47% |
| 1995 | 3.52% | 0.17% | 0.08% | 0.04% | 3.41% | 7.21% |
| 1994 | 3.02% | 0.19% | 0.08% | 0.04% | 3.40% | 6.73% |
| 1993 | 3.32% | 0.21% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 3.33% | 6.97% |
| 1992 | 3.05% | 0.21% | 0.07% | 0.03% | 3.42% | 6.79% |
| 1991 | 3.57% | 0.21% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 3.30% | 7.19% |
| 1990 | 3.61% | 0.20% | 0.07% | 0.03% | 3.24% | 7.15% |
| 1989 | 3.35% | 0.19% | 0.06% | 0.03% | 3.73% | 7.36% |
| 1988 | 2.82% | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.65% | 6.60% |
| 1987 | 3.33% | 0.14% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.64% | 7.12% |
| 1986 | 4.01% | 0.14% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.83% | 7.98% |
| 1985 | 3.89% | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.95% | 7.97% |
| 1984 | 4.42% | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.88% | 8.41% |
| 1983 | 4.84% | 0.09% | n/a | 0.00% | 3.98% | 8.91% |
| 1982 | 4.47% | 0.07% | n/a | n/a | 3.65% | 8.19% |
| 1981 | 3.63% | 0.08% | n/a | n/a | 3.41% | 7.12% |
| 1980 | 3.72% | 0.07% | n/a | n/a | 3.17% | 6.96% |
| 1979 | 3.63% | 0.05% | n/a | n/a | 2.66% | 6.34% |
| 1978 | 3.68% | 0.04% | n/a | n/a | 2.55% | 6.26% |
| 1977 | 2.99% | 0.05% | n/a | n/a | 2.36% | 5.40% |
| 1976 | 3.92% | 0.05% | n/a | n/a | 2.26% | 6.22% |
| 1975 | 4.39% | 0.05% | n/a | n/a | 2.08% | 6.52% |
| 1974 | 4.30% | 0.03% | n/a | n/a | 2.08% | 6.41% |
| 1973 | 3.78% | 0.03% | n/a | n/a | 2.02% | 5.83% |
| 1972 | 3.94% | 0.02% | n/a | n/a | 2.07% | 6.03% |
| 1971 | 4.08% | 0.01% | n/a | n/a | 2.07% | 6.15% |
| 1970 | 3.88% | 0.01% | n/a | n/a | 2.11% | 6.00% |
| 1969 | 4.037% | 0.01% | n/a | n/a | 2.20% | 6.24% |
| 1968 | 3.76% | 0.01% | n/a | n/a | 2.27% | 6.05% |
| 1967 | 3.98% | 0.01% | n/a | n/a | 2.28 | 6.27% |
| 1966 | 3.62% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.40% | 6.03 |
| 1965 | 3.82% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.47% | 6.29% |
| 1964 | 3.64% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.58% | 6.23% |
| 1963 | 3.57% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.67% | 6.24% |
| 1962 | 3.80% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.72% | 6.53% |
| 1961 | 3.63% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.83% | 6.46% |
| 1960 | 3.57% | 0.00% | n/a | n/a | 2.93% | 6.50% |
| 1959 | 3.57% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.12% | 6.68% |
| 1958 | 3.83% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.18% | 7.01% |
| 1957 | 3.63% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.19% | 6.82% |
| 1956 | 3.44% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.39% | 6.83% |
| 1955 | 3.38% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.54% | 6.93% |
| 1954 | 3.71% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.81% | 7.52% |
| 1953 | 3.75% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3.77% | 7.52% |
| 1952 | 3.99% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4.01% | 8.01% |
| 1951 | 3.85% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4.15% | 8.01% |
| 1950 | 4.09% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4.52% | 8.61% |
| 1949 | 4.46% | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4.85% | 9.30% |
Nuclear Energy as % of Total Energy Consumption
| Year | Nuclear |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 8.05% |
| 2021 | 8.13% |
| 2020 | 8.25% |
| 2019 | 8.45% |
| 2018 | 8.35% |
| 2017 | 8.63% |
| 2016 | 8.66% |
| 2015 | 8.56% |
| 2014 | 8.48% |
| 2013 | 8.49% |
| 2012 | 8.54% |
| 2011 | 8.54% |
| 2010 | 8.65% |
| 2009 | 8.89% |
| 2008 | 8.53% |
| 2007 | 8.38% |
| 2006 | 8.26% |
| 2005 | 8.15% |
| 2004 | 8.22% |
| 2003 | 8.14% |
| 2002 | 8.35% |
| 2001 | 8.36% |
| 2000 | 7.97% |
| 1999 | 7.88% |
| 1998 | 7.45% |
| 1997 | 6.98% |
| 1996 | 7.54% |
| 1995 | 7.78% |
| 1994 | 7.52% |
| 1993 | 7.35% |
| 1992 | 7.56% |
| 1991 | 7.61% |
| 1990 | 7.23% |
| 1989 | 6.61% |
| 1988 | 6.76% |
| 1987 | 6.02% |
| 1986 | 5.72% |
| 1985 | 5.34% |
| 1984 | 4.64% |
| 1983 | 4.39% |
| 1982 | 4.29% |
| 1981 | 3.95% |
| 1980 | 3.51% |
| 1979 | 3.43% |
| 1978 | 3.78% |
| 1977 | 3.47% |
| 1976 | 2.78% |
| 1975 | 2.64% |
| 1974 | 1.72% |
| 1973 | 1.20% |
| 1972 | 0.80% |
| 1971 | 0.60% |
| 1970 | 0.35% |
| 1969 | 0.23% |
| 1968 | 0.23% |
| 1967 | 0.15% |
| 1966 | 0.11% |
| 1965 | 0.08% |
| 1964 | 0.08% |
| 1963 | 0.08% |
| 1962 | 0.06% |
| 1961 | 0.04% |
| 1960 | 0.01% |
| 1959 | 0.01% |
| 1958 | 0.00% |
| 1957 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 0.00% |
| 1955 | 0.00% |
| 1954 | 0.00% |
| 1953 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 0.00% |
| 1951 | 0.00% |
| 1950 | 0.00% |
| 1949 | 0.00% |
Sources:
U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Units and Calculators Explained: British Thermal Units (Btu),” eia.gov, June 4, 2020
U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Primary Energy Consumption by Source,” eia.gov (accessed Sep. 28. 2023)
