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Fossil fuels have made up 80% of US energy consumption since 1900

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), three fossil fuel sources, namely oil, natural gas, and coal, have made up at least 80% of total U.S. energy consumption since 1900. Coal became dominant at the end of the 19th century (from about 15% of primary consumption in 1850 to more than 70% around 1910), before being overtaken by oil products in the middle of the 20th century, when natural gas usage also rose quickly. Oil consumption decreased in recent years but gas consumption continued to grow. Renewable energy consumption (other than wood and hydropower) started to rise in the 1980s and increased significantly in the mid-2000s, reaching a peak of 10% in 2014.



Fossil fuels have made up 80% of US energy consumption since 1900

Source: EIA