Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
United States energy production - statistics & facts
Fossil fuels have been the main contributor to the United States’ energy production since they were first commercially extracted in the 19th century. The energy generated using fossil fuel sources surpassed that from renewable energy sources by a factor of 10 in 2024. Natural gas and crude oil were the two single sources with the largest energy output.
After the commitment to the energy transition shown by the Biden administration with the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Trump administration cut clean energy financing, although Biden obligated 84 percent of the IRA funding before the end of his mandate.
After the commitment to the energy transition shown by the Biden administration with the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Trump administration cut clean energy financing, although Biden obligated 84 percent of the IRA funding before the end of his mandate.
Fossil fuels in the United States
In the last few decades, U.S. energy production has increased in almost every field, except for coal. Anthracite production in the U.S. has fallen significantly from a mid-20th century high of nearly 45 million short tons. However, the production of anthracite has increased since 2021, as did that of natural gas and oil. This is the result of the unprecedented number of oil and gas drilling licenses awarded in the country during the Biden administration.Renewable energy in the United States
Owing to considerable renewable energy investments, which peaked at 93 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, renewable energy production in the U.S. has increased continuously over the last decades. In 2024, it reached 8.8 quadrillion British thermal units. Biomass was the main source of renewable energy in the country that year, with 5.2 quadrillion British thermal units. In 2023, the generation of biofuels, or biomass-derived fuels, averaged roughly 804,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.Electricity production in the United States
The U.S. has a total electricity generating capacity of almost 1.3 terawatts. Nuclear power plants have the greatest capacity factor of any energy source, meaning the ratio of actual electricity generation to maximum output is close to equal. Due to the dynamic nature of non-dispatchable sources such as solar and wind, their capacity factors are significantly lower, although higher than that of natural gas and petroleum. According to a recent forecast, 70 percent of the power generated in the country will come from renewable energy sources by 2050. The political turnovers in the country along with its energy policy will confirm or disprove the projection.
