US fossil fuel consumption drops by 9% last year
The total consumption of fossil fuels in the US including petroleum, natural gas, and coal, fell to 72.9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) last year.
This was down 9% from 2019 and the lowest level since 1991.
Last year marked the largest annual decrease in US fossil fuel consumption in both absolute and percentage terms since at least 1949, according to the Monthly Energy Review.
Economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, including a 15% decrease in energy consumption in the US transportation sector, drove much of the decline.
Petroleum products, including motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil (diesel), and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), accounted for 44% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020.
Every sector consumes petroleum, but the transportation sector accounted for about 68% of total petroleum consumption in 2020. Overall, US petroleum consumption fell 13% in 2020 from 2019.
Natural gas accounted for 43% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the largest annual share on record.
Coal accounted for 13% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the lowest annual share since 1949.
This was down 9% from 2019 and the lowest level since 1991.
Last year marked the largest annual decrease in US fossil fuel consumption in both absolute and percentage terms since at least 1949, according to the Monthly Energy Review.
Economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, including a 15% decrease in energy consumption in the US transportation sector, drove much of the decline.
Petroleum products, including motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil (diesel), and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), accounted for 44% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020.
Every sector consumes petroleum, but the transportation sector accounted for about 68% of total petroleum consumption in 2020. Overall, US petroleum consumption fell 13% in 2020 from 2019.
Natural gas accounted for 43% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the largest annual share on record.
Coal accounted for 13% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the lowest annual share since 1949.
