Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2024)

In 2023, about 4,178 billion kilowatthours (kWh) (or about 4.18 trillion kWh) of electricity were generated at utility-scale electricity generation facilities in the United States.1 About 60% of this electricity generation was from fossil fuels—coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases. About 19% was from nuclear energy, and about 21% was from renewable energy sources.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that an additional 73.62 billion kWh of electricity generation was from small-scale solar photovoltaic systems in 2023.2

U.S. utility-scale electricity generation by source, amount, and share of total in 2023

Energy sourceBillion kWhShare of total
Total - all sources4,178
Fossil fuels (total)2,50560.0%
Natural gas1,80243.1%
Coal675
16.2%
Petroleum (total)16
0.4%
Petroleum liquids120.3%
Petroleum co*ke50.1%
Other gases3110.3%
Nuclear77518.6%
Renewables (total)89421.4%
Wind425
10.2%
Hydropower2405.7%
Solar (total)
165
3.9%
Photovoltaic162
3.9%
Solar thermal3
0.1%
Biomass (total)471.1%
Wood310.8%
Landfill gas80.2%
Municipal solid waste (biogenic)6
0.1%
Other biomass waste2
0.1%
Geothermal160.4%
Pumped storage hydropower4-6-0.1%
Other sources5100.2%
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, February 2024; preliminary data
1 Utility-scale electricity generation is electricity generation from power plants with at least one megawatt (or 1,000 kilowatts) of total electricity generating capacity. Data are for net electricity generation.
2 Small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are electricity generators with less than one megawatt (MW) of electricity generating capacity, which are not connected at a power plant that has a combined capacity of one MW or larger. Most small-scale PV systems are at or near the location where the electricity is consumed and many are net metered systems. Smaller PV systems are usually installed on building rooftops.
3 Other gases includes blast furnace gas and other manufactured and waste gases derived from fossil fuels.
4 Pumped storage hydroelectricity generation is negative because most pumped storage electricity generation facilities use more electricity than they produce on an annual basis. Most pumped storage systems use electricity from an electric power grid for pumping water to the storage component of the system.
5 Other (utility-scale) sources includes non-biogenic municipal solid waste, batteries, hydrogen, purchased steam, sulfur, tire-derived fuel, and other miscellaneous energy sources.

Learn more:
Electric Power Monthly: Chapter 1: Net Generation
Electric Power Annual: Chapter 3: Net Generation
Monthly Energy Review: Electricity
Energy Explained: Electricity in the United States

Last updated: February 29, 2024, with data from the Electric Power Monthly, February 2024. Data are preliminary for 2023.


Other FAQs about Electricity

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2024)

FAQs

Is the US Energy Information Administration reliable? ›

EIA is the Nation's premier source of energy information and, by law, its data, analyses, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the United States Government.

What does EIA stand for? ›

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.

What percent of US energy is nuclear? ›

Nuclear power, the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity, contributes nearly 20 percent of the electricity generated in America.

What is the EIA energy intensity? ›

EIA calculates energy intensity in the U.S. buildings sector as either the amount of energy consumed in buildings per square foot of commercial floorspace or the amount of energy consumed per residential household.

Who funds the US Energy Information Administration? ›

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) receives funding through an annual appropriation from Congress. Our budget falls under the authority of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development.

Is the US Energy Information Administration a government agency? ›

The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 established EIA as the primary federal government authority on energy statistics and analysis, building upon systems and organizations first established in 1974 following the oil market disruption of 1973. EIA is in Washington, DC.

What are the 7 steps of EIA? ›

Steps in EIA process
  • Submission of Preliminary Information. ...
  • Screening of Preliminary Information. ...
  • Environmental Scoping. ...
  • EIA / IEE Report Preparation. ...
  • Public Participation & Evaluation of the Report. ...
  • Decision Making. ...
  • Compliance Monitoring.
Sep 14, 2023

What is the main purpose of the EIA? ›

Essentially, an EIA is designed to identify the potential risks of a project (e.g., infrastructure development such as a dam) to environmental and human well-being and identify measures to eliminate and/or mitigate these risks. This can be done by replacing and/or modifying planned activities to reduce impacts.

What are the 7 EIA report types? ›

The EIA reports covered by this Manual are the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Programmatic EIS, Environmental Performance Report and Management Program (EPRMP), Programmatic EPRMP, Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and IEE Checklists.

What state is #1 in nuclear energy? ›

The state of Illinois is the leading producer of nuclear energy in the United States.

Who is the largest producer of nuclear energy in the world? ›

The USA is the world's largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for about 30% of worldwide generation of nuclear electricity. The country's nuclear reactors produced 772 TWh in 2022, 18% of total electrical output.

What is the most used energy source in the world? ›

Globally we get the largest amount of our energy from oil, followed by coal, gas, and hydroelectric power.

What is EIA in electricity? ›

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is the statistical agency of the Department of Energy. It provides policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy, and its interaction with the economy and the environment.

What does EIA measure? ›

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to assess the significant effects of a project or development proposal on the environment. EIAs make sure that project decision makers think about the likely effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid, reduce or offset those effects.

What are the levels of EIA? ›

Key stages in the Environmental Assessment process include: screening, alternatives, preliminary assessment, scoping, mitigation, main EIA study and environmental impact statement, review and monitoring (Box 5.1 and Figure 5.1).

Is the U.S. EPA a reliable source? ›

The data are credible, reliable, and have been peer-reviewed and published. Uncertainty: Information on sources of uncertainty is available. Variability and limitations of the indicator are understood and have been evaluated.

Who runs the US Energy Information Administration? ›

Joseph DeCarolis

Is the U.S. energy secure Why or why not? ›

The country's energy security is bolstered by large domestic oil reserves and relatively low per-capita energy use, according to the report. The United States ranks seventh, with a risk score slightly better than the average member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Is U.S. energy a real company? ›

U.S. Energy is an ISO 14001 certified company which follows Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance (ESG) criteria in their daily operations.

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