EIA adds new forecasts of renewable diesel and other biofuels to Short-Term Energy Outlook

In our February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we introduced new forecasts of U.S. production, consumption, and the net of imports less exports of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and other biofuels in the United States. This new breakout highlights our significant forecast for growth in U.S. renewable diesel production. In previous STEO releases, we included a forecast of biomass-based diesel consumption, which combined all production and imports of biodiesel consumed in the United States with imported volumes of renewable diesel, but we did not include domestically produced renewable diesel. By differentiating biodiesel from renewable diesel, these new forecasts provide a more precise accounting of biomass-based diesel. More »

EIA Product Highlight: New England Dashboard

To increase customer understanding of energy interrelationships among electricity, natural gas, and petroleum products in New England, we provide an interactive dashboard that shows energy market and weather conditions in that region. The dashboard helps analysts and interested participants examine many key aspects of wholesale energy markets in New England. More »

Natural gas interstate pipeline capacity additions decrease in 2021

A total of 7.44 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of interstate natural gas pipeline capacity was added in the United States during 2021, according to our recently updated Natural Gas Pipeline Projects Tracker. This amount was the lowest amount of capacity added to interstate transmission since 2016. More »

Mixed water supply conditions in the Northwest affect 2022 hydropower outlook

On February 3, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) released its latest water supply forecast for the 2022 water year, which runs from October 2021 through September 2022. The NWRFC forecasts below-normal water supply in the southern areas of the Columbia River Basin and near-normal water supply in the rest of the basin. The region has improved from the drought conditions that have been limiting water supply in the western United States. NWRFC's outlook contributes to our Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which in February forecast 17% more electricity generation from hydropower in the Northwest in 2022 compared with 2021. More »

Three countries provided almost 70% of liquefied natural gas received in Europe in 2021

In 2021, a large share of Europe's supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) originated in the United States, Qatar, and Russia. Combined, these three countries accounted for almost 70% of Europe's total LNG imports, according to data by CEDIGAZ. The United States became Europe's largest source of LNG in 2021, accounting for 26% of all LNG imported by European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK), followed by Qatar with 24%, and Russia with 20%. In January 2022, the United States supplied more than half of all LNG imports into Europe for the month. More »

EIA expects U.S. petroleum trade to shift toward net imports during 2022

In 2021, the United States returned to importing more petroleum (which includes crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other liquids) than it exports following its historic shift to being a net exporter of petroleum in 2020. According to our February 2022 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect net crude oil imports to increase, making the United States a net importer of petroleum in 2022. More »

U.S. marketed natural gas production forecast to rise in 2022 and 2023

We forecast that U.S. natural gas marketed production will increase to an average of 104.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2022 and then further increase to a record-high 106.6 Bcf/d in 2023, according to our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Around 97% of production over the next two years will come from the Lower 48 states (L48), excluding the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The other 3% will come from Alaska and the GOM. More »

U.S. crude oil production forecast to rise in 2022 and 2023 to record-high levels

In our February 2022 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that crude oil prices will remain high enough to drive U.S. crude oil production to record-high levels in 2023, reaching a forecast 12.6 million barrels per day (b/d). We expect new production in the Permian Basin to drive overall U.S. crude oil production growth. More »

U.S. demand for residual fuel oil rose late in 2021

In November 2021, more residual fuel oil was consumed in the United States, measured as product supplied, than during any month since January 2017. Residual fuel oil has several uses, but it is primarily consumed as bunker fuel in the maritime shipping sector. Consumption in December 2021 was at its highest end-of-year level since 2012, according to our Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR). More »

Generators in Texas meet electric demand, avoid widespread outages during recent cold snap

A cold snap brought cold weather and icy conditions to Texas this past week, increasing heating demand for electricity across the state. Power plants and electric generators in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)—the grid operator for most of the state—increased output to meet elevated demand during the storm. Unlike February 2021, when extreme cold disrupted the supply of electricity in Texas and left millions without power, generators maintained fuel supplies and avoided widespread power outages. More »

Europe relies primarily on imports to meet its natural gas needs

Imports of natural gas by both pipeline and as liquefied natural gas (LNG) provided more than 80% of the supply of natural gas to the countries of the European Union (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020, up from 65% a decade earlier. During 2020, natural gas imported into the region by pipeline made up 74% of all natural gas imports, and LNG accounted for the remaining 26% of total imports. More »

Oil-fired generators helped meet electric demand in New England this January

As strong winter storms and cold temperatures blanketed the northeastern United States this January and increased the demand for electricity to heat homes and businesses, utilities used oil-fired generation to help meet electricity demand in New England. Although oil-fired generators are infrequently used in New England, they play an important role in meeting electricity demand in the region during times of high demand and limited supply of alternative fuel sources such as natural gas. More »

Electric vehicles and hybrids surpass 10% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicle sales in the Unites States have increased in recent months as sales of non-hybrid internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles fueled by gasoline or diesel decreased. In the fourth quarter of 2021, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles collectively accounted for 11% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States, according to data from Ward's Intelligence. More »

EIA analysis considers different outcomes for coal markets in India and Southeast Asia

In our International Energy Outlook 2021 (IEO2021) Issues in Focus: Uncertainty in Coal Trade in India and Greater Southeast Asia, we analyze three cases for coal markets in India and Greater Southeast Asia (GSEA), which highlight the role that varying levels of coal production and trade play in the regions' carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and electricity generation mix. More »

Pennsylvania sent more electricity to neighboring states than any other state in 2020

Nearly 78 million megawatthours (MWh) of electricity generated in Pennsylvania was delivered to neighboring states in 2020, more than from any other state, according to our State Electricity Profiles. More than 230 million MWh of electricity was generated in Pennsylvania during 2020, exceeding electricity generation in all states except for Texas and Florida. More »

Utilities' carbon reduction goals will have little impact on U.S. CO2 emissions

Executing several plans announced by U.S. power utilities to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions would have a minor effect on U.S. energy-related CO2 reductions, according to the analysis we published earlier this week. As part of the Annual Energy Outlook 2021 (AEO2021), we created a Corporate Goal case that incorporates assumptions based on carbon-reduction goals outlined in utility-integrated resource plans and on the carbon-reduction goals stated in press releases and other utility plans. More »

New England natural gas and electricity prices increase on supply constraints, high demand

The spot natural gas price at the Algonquin Citygate, a trading hub and the benchmark for the natural gas price in New England, averaged $20.55 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) during January 2022—the highest monthly average price since February 2014—and exceeded $28/MMBtu on several days as part of a pattern of price spikes this winter. More »

U.S. propane prices fell from multiyear highs after a mild start to the winter

A mild start to this winter's heating season caused U.S. propane prices to decline from the highest starting prices of a heating season since 2014. The wholesale propane price at the U.S. benchmark at Mont Belvieu, Texas, reached $1.51 per gallon (gal) on October 5, 2021, and has since declined to $1.30/gal as of January 31, 2022. More »

Five states updated or adopted new clean energy standards in 2021

As of the end of 2021, 31 states and the District of Columbia had renewable portfolio standards (RPS) or clean energy standards (CES). These polices require electricity suppliers to supply a set share of their electricity from designated renewable resources or carbon-free eligible technologies. Four states—Delaware, Oregon, North Carolina, and Illinois—updated their RPS or CES policies in 2021. In addition, Nebraska approved its first clean energy goal in December 2021, becoming the 20th U.S. state to commit to 100% clean electricity by 2050. More »