Renewable energy explained

What role does renewable energy play in the United States?

Until the mid-1800s, wood was the source of nearly all of the nation's energy needs for heating, cooking, and lighting. From the late 1800s until today, fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas—have been the primary sources of energy. Hydropower and wood were the most used renewable energy resources until the 1990s. Since then, U.S. energy consumption from biofuels, geothermal energy, solar energy, and wind energy have increased. Total U.S. renewable energy production and consumption reached record highs in 2022.

In 2022, renewable energy provided about 13%, or 13.18 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu)—1 quadrillion is the number 1 followed by 15 zeros—of total U.S. energy consumption. The electric power sector accounted for about 61% of total U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2022, and about 21% of total U.S. electricity generation was from renewable energy sources.