EIA reviews 250-year shift in U.S. energy use

The U.S. Energy Information Administration published an explainer on the 250-year history of U.S. energy consumption.

• The article summarizes how U.S. energy use shifted from wood in the 18th and 19th centuries to petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, and biofuels by 2025.
• It notes that in 2025 U.S. total energy use was 96 quads, up 2% from 2024, and that fossil fuels still accounted for 82% of energy consumed.
• The piece also states that electricity demand is expected to grow faster than any time since 2000 through the end of 2027, mostly because of data centers; it also references EV electricity consumption of 24 billion kWh in 2025.