In 2022, U.S. crude oil exports increased to a new record, 3.6 million barrels a day

In 2022, U.S. crude oil exports averaged 3.6 million barrels per day (b/d), a record high according to export data that has been collected since 1920. U.S. crude oil exports in 2022 were 22% (640,000 b/d) higher than in 2021. Increased U.S. crude oil production, releases from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and more global demand for crude oil from countries other than Russia all drove the growth in U.S. crude oil exports. More »

U.S. natural gas production grew by 4% in 2022

U.S. natural gas production grew by 4% (4.9 billion cubic feet per day [Bcf/d]) in 2022, averaging 119 Bcf/d. Three regions—Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville—accounted for 60% of all U.S. production in 2022, similar to the proportion in 2021. More »

U.S. coal exports remained relatively unchanged between 2021 and 2022

In 2022, 84.8 million short tons (MMst) of coal were exported from the United States, relatively unchanged from the 85.1 MMst exported in 2021. Steam coal accounted for 45% of all U.S. coal exports in 2022; metallurgical coal accounted for 55%. More »

Renewable generation surpassed coal and nuclear in the U.S. electric power sector in 2022

Last year, the U.S. electric power sector produced 4,090 million megawatthours (MWh) of electric power. In 2022, generation from renewable sources—wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal—surpassed coal-fired generation in the electric power sector for the first time. Renewable generation surpassed nuclear generation for the first time in 2021 and continued to provide more electricity than nuclear generation last year. More »

The majority of U.S. households used natural gas in 2020

In 2020, 61% of U.S. households used natural gas for at least one energy end use, according to our 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). Space heating, water heating, and cooking were the most common end uses; more than half of U.S. households used natural gas for space heating, closely followed by water heating. More »

Europe was the main destination for U.S. LNG exports in 2022

U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) averaged 10.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2022, increasing by 9% (0.8 Bcf/d) compared with 2021, according to our Natural Gas Monthly. The increase in U.S. LNG exports was driven by strong LNG demand in Europe, high international natural gas prices, and expanded U.S. liquefaction capacity. U.S. LNG exports to Europe increased 141%, or 4.0 Bcf/d, compared with 2021. More »

Waste-to-energy plants are a small but stable source of electricity in the United States

Commonly known as waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, facilities that burn municipal solid waste (MSW), or garbage, in boilers to produce steam are a small but steady source of electric power in the United States. More »

U.S. petroleum product exports set a record high in 2022

In 2022, the United States set a new record for petroleum product exports, up 7% from 2021, according to our Petroleum Supply Monthly. U.S. petroleum product exports averaged 5.97 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2022 (405,000 b/d more than in 2021) driven by an increase of 18% (193,000 b/d) in distillate fuel oil. More »

EIA projects that U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions will fall through 2050 in AEO2023

U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions drop 25% to 38% below what they were in 2005 by 2030, according to our projections in the Annual Energy Outlook 2023 (AEO2023). We use 2005 as an emissions reference year because the United States' nationally determined contribution (NDC), submitted as part of the Paris Agreement, calls for a target of 50% to 52% of net greenhouse gas emissions below the 2005 level by 2030. It's important to note, however, that we only consider energy-related CO2 emissions, which does not cover the full NDC scope. More »

EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2023 will be released today

We will release our Annual Energy Outlook 2023 (AEO2023) later today. Our AEO explores long-term energy trends in the United States and presents an outlook for energy markets through 2050. More »

Residential retail electric choice participation rate has leveled off since 2019

In 2021, 26% of eligible U.S. customers participated in their state's retail choice program, or 13.2 million U.S. residential electric customers, based on data from our Annual Electric Power Industry Report. The participation rate in U.S. residential retail choice programs remained relatively unchanged from 2019 to 2021, following several years of modest growth. More »

U.S. natural gas consumption set nine monthly records and an annual record in 2022

In 2022, U.S. natural gas consumption averaged a record 88.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d)—the highest annual natural gas consumption, according to records beginning in 1949. U.S. natural gas consumption last year increased 5% (4.5 Bcf/d) from 2021, the second-fastest year-over-year growth since 2013. Natural gas consumption in the United States set monthly records in 9 of 12 months in 2022, based on our Natural Gas Monthly. More »

U.S. ethane demand grew 9% in 2022, driven by petrochemical capacity additions

In 2022, U.S. ethane demand increased by approximately 9%, or almost 0.2 million barrels per day (b/d), according to our Petroleum Supply Monthly. U.S. production and consumption of ethane (a hydrocarbon gas liquid used almost exclusively as a feedstock in the petrochemical industry) has grown since 2010, along with the build-out of U.S. petrochemical capacity. U.S. ethane product supplied, a proxy for ethane consumption, averaged just under 2.0 million b/d in 2022, reaching a peak of almost 2.2 million b/d in July. More »

Liquefied natural gas will continue to lead growth in U.S. natural gas exports

Exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will continue to drive growth in U.S. natural gas exports over the next two years, according to our recently released Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). More »

Liquefied natural gas will continue to lead growth in U.S. natural gas exports

Exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will continue to drive growth in U.S. natural gas exports over the next two years, according to our recently released Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). More »

EU's ban on diesel fuel from Russia shifts trade patterns

On June 3, 2022, the EU adopted a sixth package of sanctions that banned imports of seaborne crude oil from Russia into the EU (effective December 5, 2022) and banned seaborne imports of petroleum products from Russia, including diesel fuel (effective February 5, 2023). More »

Wind, solar, and batteries increasingly account for more new U.S. power capacity additions

Wind, solar, and battery storage are growing as a share of new electric-generating capacity each year. In 2023, these three technologies account for 82% of the new, utility-scale generating capacity that developers plan to bring online in the United States, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. More »

U.S. simple-cycle natural gas turbines operated at record highs in summer 2022

The average monthly capacity factor for simple-cycle, natural gas turbine (SCGT) power plants in the United States has grown annually since 2020. Average capacity factors surpassed 20% for two consecutive summer months in 2022—the first time on record—to meet peak electricity demand, based on data from our Electric Power Monthly. More »

U.S. simple-cycle natural gas turbines operated at record highs in summer 2022

The average monthly capacity factor for simple-cycle, natural gas turbine (SCGT) power plants in the United States has grown annually since 2020. Average capacity factors surpassed 20% for two consecutive summer months in 2022—the first time on record—to meet peak electricity demand, based on data from our Electric Power Monthly. More »