America’s Evolving Energy Story: From Wood To Renewables In 250 Years –  EIA

In 2024, the United States consumed about 94 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy, marking a 1% increase from 2023. Fossil fuels—mainly petroleum, natural gas, and coal—continued to dominate, making up 82% of the total energy use. The remaining 18% came from nonfossil fuel sources, including renewables and nuclear energy. Petroleum has remained the most-used energy source in the U.S. for the past 75 years, and in a notable shift, nuclear energy consumption in 2024 surpassed coal for the first time.

The country’s energy usage has undergone major transformations since 1776, the year of the Declaration of Independence. At that time, wood was the primary source of energy, used mainly for heating, cooking, and lighting. It remained the leading energy source until the late 1800s. Even today, wood is still used, mainly in industrial plants such as lumber and paper mills, where waste wood is burned to generate electricity.

Coal took over as the main energy source in 1885 and held that position for about 65 years. In its early days, coal-powered household stoves and transportation systems like trains and steamships. However, since the 1960s, nearly all coal consumed in the U.S. has been used for electricity generation. As environmental concerns grew and more efficient technologies developed, coal use began to decline, and cleaner alternatives became more common.

Petroleum became the most-consumed energy source in 1950 and remains on top. It is widely used in the transportation sector as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, and it also supports the industrial sector by providing raw materials for chemicals and plastics. Natural gas follows petroleum as the second most-used source. Although once viewed as a waste product during crude oil extraction, natural gas is now widely used for heating and electricity generation.

Hydropower has long played a role in U.S. energy history. Though early uses of water power for mills are not included in official data, they were common. The first industrial use of hydropower for electricity was in 1880 at a chair factory in Michigan. By 1882, the first hydroelectric plant selling electricity to the public opened in Wisconsin.

Other renewable sources gained importance only in recent years. Biofuels, such as ethanol blended with motor gasoline, became the top renewable source in 2016. In 2022, U.S. energy consumption from renewables surpassed nuclear energy for the first time since 1984. A year later, in 2023, renewables overtook coal usage for the first time since the early 1880s. Wind and solar energy now provide more energy individually than hydropower.

These changes reflect a broader trend toward cleaner and more sustainable energy. While fossil fuels still dominate, the steady rise in renewable energy use and nuclear energy highlights a shift in how America powers its economy. The U.S. continues to evolve its energy landscape with new technologies and cleaner alternatives, indicating a more diversified and resilient energy future.