Energy in the United States

The United States is the 2nd largest energy consumer in terms of total use in 2010. The U.S. ranks seventh in energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small countries. Not included is the significant amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the U.S.

The majority of this energy is derived from fossil fuels: in 2009, EIA data showed 37% of the nation's energy came from petroleum, 21% from coal, and 25% from natural gas. Nuclear power supplied 9% and renewable energy supplied 8%, which was mainly from hydroelectric dams although other renewables are included such as wind power, geothermal and solar energy. Energy consumption has increased at a faster rate than energy production over the last fifty years in the U.S.(when they were roughly equal). This difference is now largely met through imports.

According to the Energy Information Administration's statistics, the per-capita energy consumption in the US has been somewhat consistent from the 1970s to today. The average has been 335.9 million British thermal units (BTUs) per person from 1980 to 2006. One explanation suggested for this is that the energy required to produce the increase in US consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the US with a corresponding shift of green house gases and pollution. In comparison, the world average has increased from 63.7 in 1980 to 72.4 million BTU's per person in 2006. On the other hand, US "off-shoring" of manufacturing is sometimes exaggerated: US domestic manufacturing has grown by 50% since 1980.

The development of renewable energy and energy efficiency marks "a new era of energy exploration" in the United States, according to President Barack Obama.

Energy in the United States
	Population	Consumption	Production	Import	Electricity	CO2-emission
	Million	TWh	TWh	TWh	TWh	Mt
2004	294.0	27,050	19,085	8,310	3,921	5,800
2007	302.1	27,214	19,366	8,303	4,113	5,769
2008	304.5	26,560	19,841	7,379	4,156	5,596
2009	307.5	25,155	19,613	6,501	3,962	5,195
2010	309.3	28,714	22,063	6,334
Change 2004-2009	4.6 %	-7.0 %	2.8 %	-21.8 %	1.0 %	-10.4  %
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power

Primary energy use in the United States was 25,155 TWh and 82 TWh per million persons in 2009. Primary energy use was 1,100 TWh less in the US than in China in 2009. Same year the share of energy import in the US was 26 % of the primary energy use. The energy import declined ca 22 % and the annual CO2 emissions ca 10 % in 2009 compared to 2004.

History

From its founding until the late 18th century, the United States was a largely agrarian country with abundant forests. 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.

Coal remained dominant for the next 7 decades, but by 1950, it was surpassed in turn by both petroleum and natural gas. As of 2011, coal consumption is the highest it has ever been, with coal mostly being used to generate electricity. Natural gas, which is cleaner-burning and more easily transportable, has replaced coal as the preferred source of heating in homes, businesses and industrial furnaces. Although total energy use increased by approximately a factor of 50 between 1850 and 2000, energy use per capita increased only by a factor of four. As of 2009, United States per capita energy use had declined to 7075 more than 12% since 2000, and currently is at levels not seen since 1960s usage levels. At the beginning of the 20th century, petroleum was a minor resource used to manufacture lubricants and fuel for kerosene and oil lamps. One hundred years later it had become the preeminent energy source for the U.S. and the rest of the world. This rise closely paralleled the emergence of the automobile as a major force in American culture and the economy.

While petroleum is also used as a source for plastics and other chemicals, and powers various industrial processes, today two-thirds of oil consumption in the U.S. is in the form of its derived transportation fuels. Oil's unique qualities for transportation fuels in terms of energy content, cost of production, and speed of refueling have made it difficult to supplant with technological alternatives developed so far.

In June 2010, the American Energy Innovation Council, (which includes Bill Gates, Microsoft; Jeffrey R. Immelt, chief executive of General Electric; and John Doerr) has urged the government to more than triple spending on energy research and development, to $16 billion a year. Mr. Gates endorsed the administration’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, but said that was not possible with today’s technology or politicism. He said that the only way to find such disruptive new technology was to pour large sums of money at the problem. The group notes that the federal government spends less than $5 billion a year on energy research and development, not counting one-time stimulus projects. About $30 billion is spent annually on health research and more than $80 billion on military R.& D. They advocate a jump in spending on basic energy research.

Current consumption

Main article: Energy supply

U.S. Energy Flow - 2009. A quad is 10¹⁵ BTU, or 1.055 × 10¹⁸ joules. Note that the breakdown of useful and waste energy in each sector (yellow vs. grey) may be misleading because heat engines cannot convert 100% of thermal energy into useful work and thus lose some heat into the environment.

The U.S. Department of Energy tracks national energy consumption in four broad sectors: industrial, transportation, residential, and commercial. The industrial sector has long been the country's largest energy user, currently representing about 33% of the total. Next in importance is the transportation sector, followed by the residential and commercial sectors.

Sector Summary

Sector Name	Description	Major uses
Industrial	Facilities and equipment used for producing and processing goods.	22% chemical production 16% petroleum refining 14% metal smelting/refining
Transportation	Vehicles which transport people/goods on ground, air or water.	61% gasoline fuel 21% diesel fuel 12% aviation
Residential	Living quarters for private households.	32% space heating 13% water heating 12% lighting 11% air conditioning 8% refrigeration 5% electronics 5% wet-clean (mostly clothes dryers)
Commercial	Service-providing facilities and equipment (businesses, government, other institutions).	25% lighting 13% heating 11% cooling 6% refrigeration 6% water heating 6% ventilation 6% electronics

The breakdown of energy consumption by source is given here:

Fuel type	2006 US consumption in PWh	2006 World consumption in PWh
Oil	11.71	50.33
Gas	6.50	31.65
Coal	6.60	37.38
Hydroelectric	0.84	8.71
Nuclear	2.41	8.14
Geothermal, wind, solar, wood, waste	0.95	1.38
Total	29.26	138.41

U.S, Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector in 2008 is tabled as following:

Consumption Summary'

Supply Sources	Percent of Source	Demand Sectors	Percent of Sector
Petroleum 37.1%	71% Transportation 23% Industrial 5% Residential and Commercial 1% Electric Power	Transportation 27.8%	95% Petroleum 2% Natural Gas 3% Renewable Energy
Natural Gas 23.8%	3% Transportation 34% Industrial 34% Residential and Commercial 29% Electric Power	Industrial 20.6%	42% Petroleum 40% Natural Gas 9% Coal 10% Renewable Energy
Coal 22.5%	8% Industrial <1% Residential and Commercial 91% Electric Power	Residential and Commercial 10.8%	16% Petroleum 76% Natural Gas 1% Coal 1% Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy 7.3%	11% Transportation 28% Industrial 10% Residential and Commercial 51% Electric Power	Electric Power 40.1%	1% Petroleum 17% Natural Gas 51% Coal 9% Renewable Energy 21% Nuclear Electric Power
Nuclear Electric Power 8.5% (30%)	100% Electric Power

Note: Sum of components may not equal 100 percent due to independent rounding.

Total Primary Consumption Historical Evolution in U.S until 2009.

Total Consumption until 2009 in Mtoe :

1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2008-2009	CAGR 2000-09
1,914	1,929.6	1,967.5	2,000.9	2,041.3	2,067.3	2,118.4	2,140.7	2,167.2	2,215.9	2,279.6	2,235.8	2,270.6	2,265.2	2,311	2,324.6	2,304.5	2,340.4	2,301.4	2,201.4	-4.3%	0.4%

CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate Note: Total energy includes coal, gas, oil, electricity, heat and biomass.

Regional variation

Residential Energy Consumption per capita by State.

Average annual residential electricity usage by city, 2000-2005. Measured in Kilowatt hours per customer.

Household energy use varies significantly across the United States. An average home in the Pacific region (consisting of California, Oregon, and Washington) consumes 35% less energy than a home in the South Central region. Most of the regional differences can be explained by climate. The heavily populated coastal areas of the Pacific states experience generally mild winters and summers, reducing the need for both home heating and air conditioning. The warm, humid climates of the South Central and South Atlantic regions lead to higher electricity usage, while the cold winters experienced in the Northeast and North Central regions result in much higher consumption of natural gas and heating oil.

Another reason for regional differences is the variety of building codes and environmental regulations found at the local and state level. California has some of the strictest environmental laws and building codes in the country, which may contribute to the fact that its per-household energy consumption is lower than all other states except Hawaii.

Major U.S. cities also show significant variation in per capita energy consumption. In addition to differences in regional climates and variations in building code standards, factors affecting energy use in cities include population density and building design. Townhouses are more energy efficient than single-family homes because less heat, for example, is wasted per person.

Oil consumption

Further information: Oil megaprojects (2011)

During the 1990s, the United States imported over two-thirds of its oil. As of 2011, this has fallen; less than half of US oil consumption is now imported.

In 2010 2/3 of total petroleum consumption was for transportation. Almost 2/3 of transportation consumption was gasoline.

During the Carter administration, in response to an energy crisis and hostile Iranian and Soviet Union relations, President Jimmy Carter announced the Carter Doctrine which declared that any interference with U. S. interests in the Persian Gulf would be considered an attack on U.S. vital interests. This doctrine was expanded by Ronald Reagan.

In the movie, Blood and Oil, Nation magazine correspondent Michael T. Klare says that the George W. Bush Administration extended the Carter Doctrine even further to the reaches of Africa through the creation of the United States African Command. He says this command is just there to protect African oil, and that there is a race for scarce oil resources as China and Russia follow the path of the United States's policy in the past by wanting oil for their developing economies.

Coal

See also: Coal mining in the United States

Electrical Energy

The United States of America (USA) is the world's second largest producer/user of electric energy. It consumes about 20% of the world's supply of electricity. This section provides a summary of the consumption and generation of the USA Electric industry. Based upon data mined from US DOE Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2010 files Data was obtained from the most recent DOE Energy Information Agency (EIA) files. Consumption is detailed from the residential, commercial, industrial, and other user communities. Generation is detailed for the major fuel sources of coal, natural gas, nuclear, petroleum, hydro and the other renewables of wind, wood, other biomass, geothermal and solar. Changes to the electrical energy fuel mix and other trends and changes from 2007 and 2000 are identified. Progress in wind and solar contributions to the energy mix are addressed. Expected changes in the generation environment during the next 5 years are discussed.

Consumption

US Electric Energy Consumption by Consumer Communities

Total electrical energy consumption in 2010 was 4,151 Billion Kwhs (B Kwhs). 125.7 Million residential customers used 1,446 B Kwhs- 34.8% of USA’s 2010 load. 17.7 Million commercial customers used 1,330 B Kwhs- 32 %. 748K Industrial customers used 970 B Kwhs- 23.4%. 397 B Kwhs or 9.6% were losses from the system (135 B Kwhs) and for unaccounted loads (262 B Kwhs). Average residential monthly usage was about 959 Kwhs and at a cost of $110.67/month.

Total Consumption in the peak year of 2007 was 4,184.5 B Kwh’s up from 3,836 in 2000. Percentages for each consumer type is shown in the following graph

Generation

Electricity production by source.

  coal, oil, natural gas

  hydroelectric

  nuclear

  Other renewables

Further information: Electricity sector of the United States

USA’s 1137.3 Gigawatt power infrastructure produced 4,125 Billion Kwhs (B Kwhs)in 2010. USA imports minus exports was 26 B Kwhs or 0.6% of what was used. Electrical energy generated from Coal was 1,847 B Kwhs (44.5%); Natural Gas, 999 B Kwhs (24.1%); Nuclear, 807 B Kwhs (19.4%); Hydro, 255 B Kwhs (6.1%); Renewables, 167 B Kwhs (4%); Petroleum, 37 B Kwhs (0.9%); and Misc 13 B Kwhs (0.3%). USA’s renewable fuels (Hydro reported separately) are Wind, 95 B Kwhs (2.3%); Wood, 37 B Kwh (0.9%); other Biomass, 19 B Kwhs (0.45% ); Geothermal, 15 B Kwhs and Solar, 1 B Kwhs (0.02%). The following tables summarize the electrical energy generated by fuel source for the USA. Data from Electric Power Annual 2010 state data summary]was also used. Changes in each fuels contribution from 2000 to 2010 are highlighted.

Electrical Production in the United States for 2010

Power Source	Units in Operation	Power Capacity (GW)	% of total Capacity	Capacity Factor	Annual Energy (billion kWh)	% of annual production
Coal	1396	342.3	30	0.616	1,847	44.5
Nat Gas	5635	470.3	41.4	0.242	999	24.1
Nuclear	104	106.7	9.4	0.863	807	19.4
Hydro	4,171	98.7	8.7	0.295	255	6.1
Renewables	3,014	56.8	5	0.336	167	4
Petroleum	3,779	62.5	5.5	0.068	37	0.9
Misc	51				13	0.3
Import					26	0.6
Total	18,150	1137.3	100	0.42	4,151	100

Electrical Production by Renewables in 2010

Power Source	Units in Operation	Power Capacity (GW)	% of total Capacity	Capacity Factor	Annual Energy (billion kWh)	% of annual production
Hydro	4,171	98.7	8.7	0.295	255	6.1
Wind	689	39.5	3.5	0.27	95	2.3
Wood	346	7.9	0.7	0.53	37	0.9
Biomass	1,574	5	0.4	0.43	19	0.45
GeoThermal	225	3.5	0.3	0.49	15	0.36
Solar	180	0.9	0.07	0.13	1	0.02
Total	7,185	155.5	13.7	0.31	422	10.1

Yearly Electric Energy (B KWh (or Twh) per year) by Fuel Source

Year	Fossil Fuel				Nuclear	Renewable							Misc	Total
	Coal	Oil	Gas	sub total		Hydro	Geo Thermal	Solar	Wind	Wood	Bio other*	sub Total
2010	1,847	37	999	2,883	807	255	15	1	95	37	19	422	39	4,151
Proportion	44.5%	0.9%	24.1%	69.5%	19.4%	6.1%	0.36%	0.02%	2.3%	0.9%	0.45%	10.1%	0.9%	100%
2009	1,756	39	931	2,726	799	269	15	1	74	36	18	413	46	3,984
2008	1,986	46	894	2,926	806	249	15	1	55	37.3	17.6	375	44.6	4,151.6
2007	2,016.5	65.7	910	2,990	806	241	15	0.6	34	39	16.5	346	39	4,187.4
2000	1,966	111	615	2,692	754	270	14	0.5	5.6	37.6	23	318.7	38.6	3,836
Proportion	51.3%	2.9%	16%	70.2%	19.7%	7%	0.37%	0.01%	0.14%	1%	0.6%	9.1%	1%	100%
1999	1,881	118	570	2,569	728	313.4	14.8	0.5	4.5	37	22.6	392.8	33	3,723.7

1. Solar includes Photovoltics and Thermal.
2. Misc includes Misc generation and Imports.
3. Bio Other includes Waste, Landfill Gas, and Other.
4. Hydro includes pumped storage.

Electric Generation (%) by Fuel Type

US Electric Generation (%) by Renewable Source

Trends

In 2010 USA’s electrical energy usage was 8% more than in 2000. It was 1% less than the peak in 2007. For the forseeable future, Coal, Natural Gas, and Nuclear will remain the top three fuels for electric energy generation in the USA with Natural Gas increasing its contribution. Hydro will hardly maintain. Petroleum will continue to decrease in importance. Wind and Solar will continue to grow in capacity but their combined contribution to USA energy output will be challenged to reach 4% in five years. *Capacity factor for Wind in 2010 was 0.27; Solar, 0.13.

Plans

In the next 5 years the USA plans to add 19 Coal fueled facilities for an increase of 10.023 Gigawatts; 110 Natural Gas, 39.156 Gigawatts; 161 Wind, 15.253 Gigawatts; 176 Solar, 8.295 Gigawatts; one Nuclear, 1.15 Gigawatts; 21 Wood, 0.846 Gigawatts; 17 Geothermal, 0.82 Gigawatts; 22 Hydro, 0.697 Gigawatts; 21 Petroleum, 0.618 Gigawatts; and 60 other Biomass, 0.543 Gigawatts. This will increase the USA generating infrastructure by 78 Gigawatts or 7%. Wind generating capability would increase by 38.6%; Solar, 922%. Expected 2015 energy output from Wind could be 3.2% of USA electrical energy usage. Solar could be 0.5%

References:

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Energy consumption of computers in the USA

See also: Green computing

Visible or embedded (i. e. hidden) computers are found everywhere: in all sectors listed in the above chapter, as well as in all subsectors listed in the column entitled Major uses in the above tables. In 1999, a study by Mark. P. Mills of the Green Earth Society reported that computers consumed 13% of the entire US supply. Numerous researchers questioned Mills' methodology and it was later demonstrated that he was off by an order of magnitude; for example, Lawrence Berkeley Labs concluded that the figure was nearer three percent of US electricity use. Although the Mills study was inaccurate, it helped drive the debate to the national level, and in 2006 the US Senate started a study of the energy consumption of Server farms.

International Cooperation

President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao announced on 2009-11-17 a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy. The presidents began by establishing a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center to facilitate joint research and development of renewable energy technologies by scientists from both countries. The center will be supported by $150 million in public and private funds over the next five years, split evenly between the partners. Initial research priorities will be building energy efficiency and electric vehicles.^{[citation needed]}

The two countries will also leverage private sector resources to develop clean energy projects in China through the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP). More than 22 companies are founding members of the program. The ECP will include collaborative projects involving renewable energy, smart grids, electric vehicles, green buildings, combined heat and power and energy efficiency.

See also

• Carter Doctrine
• The Climate Registry
• Efficient energy use
• Energy conservation
• Energy development
• Energy conservation in the United States
• Energy policy of the United States
• Energy security
• World energy resources and consumption
• List of countries by energy consumption and production
• Petroleum in the United States
• Renewable energy in the United States
• Individual states:
  • Energy in Vermont

External links

• Energy Information Administration - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government's Energy Information Administration
• Biomass Energy Data Book
• Buildings Energy Data Book
• Power Technologies Energy Data Book (renewables)
• Transportation Energy Data Book
• Interactive United States Energy Comparisons
• Renewable Energy Tops 10% of U.S. Energy Production
• World Energy Lighting