US energy usage increases slightly despite decrease in coal use
Primary energy consumption in the United States in 2016 increased slightly from 2015 levels to 97.4 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), despite a nine percent drop in coal consumption.
The use of petroleum and natural gas both increased in 2016, but the decrease in coal usage more than offset those increases. Fossil fuels made up 81 percent of total U.S. energy consumption in 2016, a slight decrease from 2015 levels. In 2005, fossil fuels made up 86% of U.S. energy consumption.
Petroleum consumption increased to 19.6 million barrels per day in 2016, due most significantly to
increases in the transportation sector. Natural gas consumption grew to 27.5 billion cubic feet, led by increased demand in the electric power and industrial sectors. In the residential and commercial buildings sectors natural gas consumption fell slightly, reflecting lower heating demand.
Coal consumption decreased to 730 million short tons in 2016, the third successive year of diminishing coal use. In the electric power sector, coal consumption decreased by 61 million short tons (8%), while the industrial sector used 6 million short tons (11%) less coal.
Renewables made up the largest increases in energy consumption. Wind energy use grew by nearly 20 percent in 2016. Solar added 9.5 gigawatts. Hydroelectric consumption increased by seven percent. Wind, solar and hydro made up 91 percent renewable consumption increases in 2016.
The use of biomass remained close to its 2015 level at 47 percent of renewable consumption. Nuclear fuel consumption increased slightly by one percent. The number of nuclear plants remained the same, signaling a slight rise in usage of existing plants.
