80% of U.S. energy consumption in 2018 came from fossil fuels

Fossil fuels accounted for 79% of domestic energy production, and 80% of domestic energy consumption originated from fossil fuels in 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The share of U.S. total energy production from fossil fuels reached a peak of 93% in 1966. While total fossil fuel production has risen, non-fossil fuel sources have as well, including renewables such as wind and solar energy. Fossil fuels have accounted for about 80% of U.S. energy production over the past decade.

Since 2008, the production of crude oil, dry natural gas and natural gas plant liquids have risen 12 quadrillion British thermal units, 11 quadrillion British thermal units and 3 quadrillion British thermal units, respectively. These increases have offset the declines in coal production, which has fallen 9 quadrillion British thermal units since reaching a peak in 2008.

Petroleum accounted for 67% of energy exports and 86% of energy imports in 2018, according to the EIA. U.S. refineries receive much of the imported crude oil, and it is exported as petroleum products. Petroleum products accounted for 71% of total U.S. energy exports in 2018.

In 2018, net energy imports fell to their lowest level since 1963. U.S. net energy imports as a share of consumption hit a peak of 30% in 2005. In 2018, the imports comprised 4% of consumption.

The share of U.S. total energy consumption that originated from fossil fuels has declined from a peak of 94% in 1966 to 80% in 2018. The total amount of fossil fuels consumed in the United States has decreased from a peak of 86 quadrillion British thermal units in 2007. Since then, coal consumption has fallen 10 quadrillion British thermal units and petroleum, 2 quadrillion British thermal units, and this has more than offset the 7 quadrillion British thermal units rise in natural gas consumption.