The U.S. is the second largest producer and consumer of all forms of energy in the world, behind China. And, since 2019, they have been a net exporter of energy (which is to say fossil fuels) on an annual basis, with total energy production exceeding consumption by record amounts.
In recent years, the United States got 82- 83% of its total energy production from fossil fuels including oil, coal, and natural gas.
The extraction, production, and consumption of fossil fuels release vast amounts of the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere trapping heat and contributing to the global rise in temperatures, resulting in disastrous consequences for our planet.
Petroleum: The oil and natural gas industry has gone through a “renaissance” of production since the start of the 21st century. Technological improvements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have unlocked enormous oil and natural gas resources from unconventional formations, such as shale. Oil has surpassed levels of production not seen since the 1970s, causing it to remain the most-consumed fuel in the U.S.
Natural gas: Since 2000, gas has set new production records almost every year, accounting for about 38% of total domestic energy production. In the power sector, natural gas remains the dominant source, supplying 40% of U.S. electricity generation. In conjunction with the rise in oil and natural gas production, U.S. production of natural gas liquids has also increased. Most of the natural gas consumed by the U.S. is produced domestically.
Coal: The United States still has the largest coal resources in the world. However, in the face of growing competition from natural gas and renewables, U.S. coal consumption has drastically declined from its 2005 peak. Today, coal accounts for only 8% to 9% of total U.S. energy consumption, though it still contributes a disproportionately high share of carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector.
Renewables: According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), renewable energy (wind, hydropower, solar, biomass, and geothermal) production and consumption both reached record highs in 2025, accounting for roughly 9% of total primary energy, consumption more than doubling since 2000. Furthermore, the mix of all renewables accounted for 30% of total U.S. electrical generation during the first third of 2026 with wind and solar leading the fastest rates of adoption. As a source of energy consumption, in 2023, renewables passed coal for the first time in 140 years and nuclear since 1984.
Nuclear: Nuclear power (a carbon-free but non-renewable source) continues to face significant challenges—including economic and pricing pressures—. According to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), nuclear energy nonetheless accounts for roughly 8% to 9% of total domestic primary energy production. while maintaining a 20% share of total electricity generation.
Hydrogen: Hydrogen is a highly energetic, zero-emission energy carrier that produces only water and heat when used, making it an attractive solution for decarbonizing heavy industries, long-haul trucking, and long-term grid energy storage. However, because pure hydrogen does not exist naturally on Earth, it must be extracted from compounds like water or methane using other energy sources. Currently, over 90% of global hydrogen remains "gray hydrogen" [1] produced from carbon-intensive natural gas, meaning its future as a true clean energy solution relies heavily on bringing down the high production and infrastructure costs of zero-emission green and blue hydrogen. The U.S. produces about 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually, which equals roughly 1% to 1.8% of total U.S. energy consumption.
CREDIT: EIA
