Energy consumption rises slightly in 2016

U.S. energy use narrowly increased to 97.4 quadrillion British thermal units in 2016, compared to 2015, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. At the same time, coal consumption fell 9%, “nearly offsetting increases in the consumption of renewables, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear fuel.”

Renewable fuels had the largest increase in energy consumption, and wind, solar and hydroelectricity accounted for 91% of the increase in 2016, according to the EIA. “Wind generation increased by nearly 20%, making up almost half of all renewable consumption increases. Solar consumption also significantly increased, as considerable electric generating capacity was added for both wind and solar resources in 2016.” Hydroelectric use rose 7% “as the West Coast recovered from severe drought conditions.” But biomass consumption, which accounted 47% of all renewable consumption, was flat for 2016.

Fossil fuels accounted for 81% of total U.S. energy consumption, “slightly lower than 2015 levels, but down from 86% in 2005,” according to the EIA. “Petroleum consumption increased to 19.6 million barrels per day in 2016, led by increases in the transportation sector. Natural gas consumption increased to 27.5 billion cubic feet, led by higher demand in the electric power and industrial sectors. Natural gas consumption in the residential and commercial buildings sectors fell slightly, reflecting lower heating demand.

“Coal consumption fell to 730 million short tons in 2016, the third consecutive year of declining coal consumption,” according to the EIA. Coal use also declined 8% or 61 million short tons in the electric power sector, and by 11% or 6 million short tons in the industrial sector.

In 2016, nuclear fuel use increased 1%. The total number of nuclear generating units briefly rose to 100 when the Watts Bar Unit 2 in Tennessee started operating, but later in the year, it fell back to 99 with the retirement of the Fort Calhoun nuclear facility in Nebraska. Nuclear capacity rose to 99.3 gigawatts in 2016, from 98.7 gigawatts in 2015, and nuclear plant usage rose to 92.5% compared to 92.3% in 2015.