Six U.S. states accounted for over half of the primary energy produced in 2019

In 2019, the top six primary energy—producing states—Texas, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and North Dakota—accounted for 55 quadrillion British thermal units (quads), or 55% of all of the primary energy produced in the United States. In 2000, these six states had accounted for 39% of the nation's primary energy production, indicating that primary energy production has become more concentrated to the top producing states. More »

EIA's mapping system and data series show energy infrastructure near Hurricane Ida

Hurricane Ida is approaching the U.S. Gulf Coast region—home to key U.S. energy infrastructure—and is expected to make landfall on August 29. Hurricane Ida could affect local energy supply and demand, especially for transportation fuels and electricity. Our Energy Disruptions Map shows storm-related geographic data (also referred to as map layers) from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service and map layers for energy-related infrastructure such as high-voltage transmission lines, power plants, and petroleum bulk terminals. More »

68% of U.S. coal fleet retirements since 2011 were plants fueled by bituminous coal

In 2011, the United States had 317.6 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired electric generation capacity. About 88.7 GW of that capacity was retired in the decade that followed. Units fired by bituminous coal accounted for the largest share of retired capacity, at 68%. More »

New UAE-based crude oil futures contract introduced in March

On March 29, 2021, the Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., (ICE) Futures Abu Dhabi (IFAD) exchange began trading a new Murban crude oil futures contract, which delivers at Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and which may potentially serve as an additional benchmark crude oil contract for crude oil exports out of the Persian Gulf. This new contract represents a potential alternative to other regional contracts, most notably the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) Oman crude oil contract and Platts Dubai crude oil pricing basket. More »

EIA expects increased U.S. propane consumption this winter, especially in the Midwest

In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect 3.4% more U.S. propane consumption this winter compared with last winter, reflecting greater use of propane as a petrochemical feedstock, outpacing expectations of below-normal demand for space heating because of a warmer weather forecast. This pattern is especially pronounced in the Midwest, where 42% of U.S. homes using propane as a primary space heating fuel are located and where 90% of the U.S. corn crop is grown. More »

California's curtailments of solar electricity generation continue to increase

Curtailments of solar-powered electricity generation have increased in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) region, the part of the electric grid that covers most of the state. In 2020, CAISO curtailed 1.5 million megawatthours of utility-scale solar, or 5% of its utility-scale solar production. More »

Associated natural gas production declines in 2020, following three years of growth

In 2020, annual production of associated-dissolved natural gas (or associated gas)—which is natural gas produced from oil wells—declined in the combined five major U.S. onshore crude oil-producing regions for the first time since 2016. The share of associated gas produced in these five regions (Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Niobrara, and Anadarko) declined by 1.5% year over year and averaged 37.7% of natural gas production in the regions. Associated gas production averaged 14.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2020 (a 4.1% decline from 2019) amid a 9.2% drop in oil production in these regions. More »

U.S. large-scale battery storage capacity up 35% in 2020, rapid growth set to continue

The United States continued a trend of significant growth in large-scale battery storage capacity in 2020, when year-end U.S. battery power capacity reached 1,650 megawatts (MW). According to our report, Battery Storage in the United States: An Update on Market Trends, U.S. battery power capacity grew by 35% in 2020 and has tripled in the last five years. The trend is expected to continue; utilities have reported plans to install over 10,000 MW of additional large-scale battery power capacity in the United States from 2021 to 2023—10 times the capacity in 2019. More »

Electricity demand in Lower 48 states reached a high of 720 gigawatthours on August 12

On August 12, 2021, most of the United States registered a daily high temperature above 90°F. Our Hourly Electric Grid Monitor shows that hourly electricity demand in the Lower 48 states reached 720 gigawatthours (GWh) for the hour ending 5:00 p.m. eastern daylight time (EDT) on that day, which is the highest reported value for a single hour since balancing authorities (BAs) began reporting hourly electricity demand to us in July 2015. The previous hourly high was 718 GWh reported for the hour ending 6:00 p.m. EDT on July 20, 2017. More »

OPEC petroleum production forecast revised down for 2021

In our August Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that total world petroleum production will average 98.9 million barrels per day (b/d) in the second half of 2021 (2H21), down from a forecast of 99.4 million b/d in the July STEO. The change is driven mostly by forecast changes to petroleum production from OPEC and Russia as a result of the most recent OPEC+ agreement. More »

Average U.S. construction cost for onshore wind generation decreased by 27% since 2013

U.S. onshore wind generating capacity increased 74% from 2013 to 2019 to a total of 104 gigawatts (GW), including 9.6 GW built in 2019. The average U.S. construction cost for onshore wind generators fell from $1,895 per kilowatt (kW) in 2013 to $1,391/kW in 2019, according to our latest construction cost data. However, wind capacity and construction costs vary significantly by region.. More »

U.S. natural gas net trade is growing as annual LNG exports exceed pipeline exports

In our August 2021 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that U.S. natural gas exports will exceed natural gas imports by an average of 11.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2021, or almost 50% more than the 2020 average of 7.5 Bcf/d. Increases in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and in pipeline exports to Mexico are driving this growth in U.S. natural gas exports. For the first time since U.S. LNG exports from the Lower 48 states began in 2016, annual LNG exports are expected to outpace pipeline exports—by an estimated 0.6 Bcf/d—this year. More »

Iran's crude oil production fell to an almost 40-year low in 2020

In 2020, Iran produced less than 2 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil, an almost 40-year low in Iran's production levels according to our analysis, which we updated in July. Several factors contributed to Iran's low crude oil production in 2020, including the global economic decline that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and international sanctions on Iran's crude oil that limited its crude oil exports. More »

Average U.S. construction cost for onshore wind generation decreased by 27% since 2013

U.S. onshore wind generating capacity increased 74% from 2013 to 2019 to a total of 104 gigawatts (GW), including 9.6 GW built in 2019. The average U.S. construction cost for onshore wind generators fell from $1,895 per kilowatt (kW) in 2013 to $1,391/kW in 2019, according to our latest construction cost data. However, wind capacity and construction costs vary significantly by region. More »

U.S. natural gas net trade is growing as annual LNG exports exceed pipeline exports

In our August 2021 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that U.S. natural gas exports will exceed natural gas imports by an average of 11.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2021, or almost 50% more than the 2020 average of 7.5 Bcf/d. Increases in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and in pipeline exports to Mexico are driving this growth in U.S. natural gas exports. For the first time since U.S. LNG exports from the Lower 48 states began in 2016, annual LNG exports are expected to outpace pipeline exports—by an estimated 0.6 Bcf/d—this year. More »

TVA is the largest government-owned electricity provider in the United States

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates nearly 34,000 megawatts of electricity generating capacity–the most capacity among government-owned electricity providers in the United States. Balancing authorities like the TVA are responsible for balancing supply and demand for a specific portion of the power system. Sixty-six balancing authorities operate their own portion of the U.S. grid. The TVA covers most of Tennessee and provides over 90% of the state's electricity. It also covers parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia. More »

Iran’s crude oil production fell to an almost 40-year low in 2020

In 2020, Iran produced less than 2 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil, an almost 40-year low in Iran's production levels according to our analysis, which we updated in July. Several factors contributed to Iran's low crude oil production in 2020, including the global economic decline that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and international sanctions on Iran's crude oil that limited its crude oil exports. More »

EIA expects U.S. natural gas inventories to enter winter heating season below average

In our August 2021 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast U.S. inventories of natural gas will reach 3,592 billion cubic feet (Bcf) by November 1, the beginning of the winter heating season. This amount is 159 Bcf below its previous five-year average (2016–2020). Above-average withdrawals of natural gas from storage in the 2020–2021 winter heating season and below-average injections into storage this summer contributed to our forecast of below-average inventories of natural gas, along with relatively flat dry natural gas production and high natural gas exports. More »

Texas's Midland Basin accounted for 15% of U.S. crude oil production in 2020

Texas's Midland Basin, part of the larger Permian Basin, which spans parts of western Texas and eastern New Mexico, is made up of many stacked hydrocarbon-bearing formations. Production increases from the Permian Basin (particularly the Midland Basin), contributed to record U.S. crude oil and natural gas production in 2019. In 2021, as the industry continues to work through issues related to reduced consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural gas production has returned to average levels faster than crude oil production because of rising natural gas prices and more demand to support U.S. exports from the region. More »

Retail gasoline prices rise in the western United States

As of August 2, 2021, regular retail gasoline prices in both the Rocky Mountain region (PADD 4) and the West Coast region (PADD 5) have been higher than the national gasoline price average, according to our Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. Among other factors, refinery closures in the West Coast and Rocky Mountain regions in the past year have reduced refinery output of gasoline, which in turn has lowered inventories and contributed to higher prices. More »

U.S. petroleum consumption decreased to a 25-year low in 2020

In 2020, 18.1 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum products were consumed in the United States, a 25-year low. From 2019 to 2020, petroleum consumption decreased in every energy-consuming sector, and it decreased a record 15% in the transportation sector. Our new U.S. petroleum products consumption by source and sector chart shows how much petroleum by source was consumed in each sector. More »

Rising U.S. jet fuel refinery production contributes to high jet fuel inventories

Rising U.S. air travel since the beginning of 2021 has contributed to increased demand for kerosene-type jet fuel in the United States. However, increased production of jet fuel has outpaced the higher demand, leading to higher-than-average jet fuel inventory levels. More »

U.S. energy intensity has dropped by half since 1983, varying greatly by state

Energy intensity—calculated as total energy consumption divided by real gross domestic product (GDP)—is a common energy indicator and efficiency measure. In 2020, U.S. energy intensity reached a low of 5.05 thousand British thermal units (Btu) per chained 2012 dollar, down 4% from the previous year and less than half as energy intensive as the United States was in 1983. Energy intensity varies greatly by state, and some states operate with much greater energy intensity than the U.S. average. More »

OPEC+ agrees to crude oil production increases, but Brent crude oil prices remain high

On July 18, OPEC+, which includes most members of OPEC and several non-OPEC members (including Russia), agreed to increase monthly crude oil production starting in August 2021. On July 19, after the new OPEC+ agreement was made public, the price of Brent crude oil fell 7% from the previous day to $69 per barrel (b). Since then, the price of Brent crude oil has been rising, reaching $76/b on July 30. More »