About 21% of U.S. energy consumption in 2020 came from non-fossil fuel sources such as renewables and nuclear, the highest share since the early 1900s, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's June Energy Review released July 1.
Of that 21%, renewables made up about 12%, or 11.6 quadrillion Btu,
Renewable energy increased slightly in 2020 from 11.4 quadrillion Btu in 2019 to a record high of 11.6 quadrillion Btu. Increases in renewable consumption used for electricity generation were partially offset by declines in biofuel consumption in transportation, according to the EIA. Nuclear energy consumption in the U.S. totaled about 8.2 quadrillion Btu in 2020, which the EIA said is the lowest level since 2013.
Primary U.S. energy consumption in 2020 totaled 93 quadrillion Btu, down from about 100 quadrillion Btu in 2019. Fossil fuels accounted for about 79% of the total and 21% came from non-fossil fuels, including renewables and nuclear.
The 7 quadrillion Btu decline in U.S. energy consumption in 2020 was largely due to the coronavirus pandemic and marked the largest annual decrease on record, according to the EIA. Almost all of that decline was a drop in fossil fuel consumption, especially coal for electric generation and petroleum for transportation.
In 2020, U.S. coal consumption fell to 9.2 quadrillion Btu, "the lowest level in 116 years," the EIA said. U.S. coal consumption has fallen by more than 50% since its peak in 2005, according to the agency, driven by reduced use in the electric power sector.
Petroleum still lags behind its 2005 peak, though it continues to be the highest-consumed energy source in the U.S. since it surpassed coal in 1950, totaling 32.2 quadrillion Btu in 2020, according to the EIA.
Natural gas consumption in the U.S. declined slightly in 2020 to 31.5 quadrillion Btu, but that was also the second-highest natural gas consumption in the country on record, the EIA said.
The EIA forecast 1.5% higher retail electric sales this summer compared to summer 2020, reflecting a recovering economy after the COVID-19 pandemic-related downturn, according to a May report.
The agency also increased its 2021 coal output projection and its 2021 natural gas production estimate in June in part because of rising energy demands as the country recovers from the pandemic.