HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENT
In 2019 U.S. annual Energy consumption from Renewable sources exceeded Coal consumption for the first time in over 130 years since before 1885
Coal consumption in the United States fell nearly -15% from 2018 and Renewable Energy consumption grew by +1%
This outcome mainly reflects the continued decline in the amount of Coal used for electricity generation over the past decade as well as growth in Renewable Energy, mostly from Wind and Solar
Coal was once commonly used in the industrial, transportation, residential, and commercial sectors
About 90% of Coal consumption is used in the United States today is used to generate electricity in the electric power sector, and nearly all the rest is in the industrial sector
Historically Wood was the main source of U.S. energy until the mid-1800s and was the only commercial-scale Renewable source of energy in the United States until the first Hydropower plants began producing electricity in the 1880s
Coal was used in the early 1800s as fuel for steam-powered boats and trains and making steel, and it was later used to generate electricity in the 1880s
EIA’s earliest energy estimates began in 1635
In 2019 U.S. Coal consumption decreased for the sixth consecutive year to 11.3 Quadrillion BTU, the lowest level since 1964
Electricity generation from Coal has declined significantly over the past decade and in 2019 fell to its lowest level in 42 years
Natural Gas consumption in the electric power sector has significantly increased in recent years and has displaced much of the electricity generation from retired coal plants
Total Renewable Energy consumption in the United States grew for the fourth year in a row to a record-high 11.5 Quad BTU in 2019
Since 2015 the growth in U.S. Renewable Energy is almost entirely attributable to the use of Wind and Solar in the electric power sector
In 2019 electricity generation from Wind surpassed Hydro for the first time and is now the most-used source of Renewable Energy for electricity generation in the United States on an annual basis
Renewable Energy is more broadly consumed by every sector in the United States
About 56% of commercially delivered U.S. Renewable Energy is used in the electric power sector, mostly from Wind and Hydroelectric power
Various types are also consumed in the following sectors :
- industrial 22%
- transportation 12%
- residential 7%
- commercial 2%
Biomass includes Wood, biogenic waste, and biofuels and is consumed in every sector
Wood and the losses and co-products from production of biofuels are the main Renewable sources used in the industrial sector, and biofuels such as fuel ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel are used in the transportation sector
Wood, Waste, Solar and Geothermal are among the most common Renewable sources used directly in the residential and commercial sectors
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