Energy Production in the United States - Overview

While the United States may be a large consumer of energy, it’s also a large producer. The good news is that US geology and topology provides access to all kinds of energy. The bad news is that currently most of the energy produced is from fossil fuels.

PRIMARY ENERGY PRODUCTION

This line graph shows that—through the course of history—the USA has relied on fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. Reliance on nuclear energy has been nearly constant over the past 20 to 30 years. However, although nuclear power reduces emissions, it is non-renewable.

Of the fossil fuels, the USA produces the most energy with coal. Of renewable energy sources, the US produces the most energy with biomass. Although the USA produces only a small amount of wind energy compared to others sources—as of 2009—USA is the world leader in wind energy production.