Fossil fuels – petroleum, natural
gas and coal – accounted for
79% of the 97 quadrillion British
thermal units (quads) of primary
energy consumption in the
United States during 2021.
U.S. utilities are facing record low coal stockpiles, and network congestion on the rails is only adding to the stress.
In 2020, total consumption of
fossil fuels in the United States, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal, fell to 72.9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu),
down 9% from 2019 and the
lowest level since 1991.
Shares of Total US Energy Consumption by Major Sources
Anticipated higher natural gas prices could prompt coal’s share in U.S. power generation to grow in 2021 and 2022, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook.
AAL Shipping, an operator of “mega-size” project cargo ships, expects rebound for smaller U.S. import and export project cargoes in 2021, if COVID-19 pandemic subsides later this year.
