While the sun set on coal with a 3% decline in 2023, America's energy landscape was dramatically illuminated by record-setting crude oil production, a historic surge in solar and wind capacity, and a cleaner grid pushing power sector emissions to a 30-year low.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. crude oil production reached a record average of 12.9 million barrels per day (b/d), surpassing the previous record set in 2019
- U.S. dry natural gas production averaged 103.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023, up 0.5 Bcf/d or 0.5% from 2022
- Permian Basin accounted for 46% of total U.S. crude oil production in 2023, producing about 5.9 million b/d
- In 2023, U.S. total primary energy consumption was 93.59 quadrillion Btu (quads), down 2% from 2022
- Petroleum accounted for 36% of U.S. primary energy consumption in 2023, totaling 33.70 quads
- U.S. natural gas consumption reached 33.58 quads in 2023, 36% of total primary energy
- In 2023, U.S. utility-scale generating capacity totaled 1,189 GW, with natural gas at 43%
- U.S. natural gas-fired capacity reached 512 GW by end of 2023
- Renewable capacity installed was 36 GW in 2023, 81% of new additions
- In 2023, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions totaled 4,789 million metric tons (MMT), down 3% from 2022
- Power sector CO2 emissions fell 7% to 1,417 MMT in 2023, lowest since 1993
- Transportation CO2 emissions were 1,796 MMT in 2023, 38% of U.S. total
- U.S. energy employment totaled 6.7 million jobs in 2023, up 1.8% from 2022
- Oil and gas supported 2.4 million jobs in 2023, 36% of energy total
- Renewable energy jobs reached 3.4 million in 2023, 51% of total
In 2023, the U.S. set oil production records while renewables grew significantly, lowering emissions.
Capacity and Infrastructure
- In 2023, U.S. utility-scale generating capacity totaled 1,189 GW, with natural gas at 43%
- U.S. natural gas-fired capacity reached 512 GW by end of 2023
- Renewable capacity installed was 36 GW in 2023, 81% of new additions
- U.S. interstate natural gas pipeline mileage was 306,000 miles in 2023
- Crude oil refinery capacity averaged 17.9 million b/d operable in 2023
- U.S. LNG export terminal capacity reached 14.1 Bcf/d by end-2023
- Wind capacity totaled 149 GW at year-end 2023
- U.S. high-voltage transmission lines spanned 240,000 circuit-miles in 2023
- Solar PV capacity hit 139 GW utility-scale in 2023
- Coal-fired capacity declined to 192 GW in 2023, down 4 GW from 2022
- U.S. petroleum product pipeline capacity was 2.4 million b/d in 2023
- Nuclear capacity remained at 95 GW with 93 reactors operating in 2023
- Battery storage capacity reached 15.5 GW by end-2023
- U.S. gasoline pipeline capacity averaged 10.5 million b/d in 2023
- Hydroelectric capacity was 80 GW in 2023
- Natural gas underground storage capacity was 4,400 Bcf working gas in 2023
- U.S. crude oil rail capacity peaked at 1.0 million b/d in 2023
- Geothermal capacity stable at 2.7 GW across 24 states in 2023
- Distillate fuel oil storage capacity was 293 million barrels in 2023
- U.S. distribution transformers capacity supported 1,200 GW load in 2023
- Propane storage capacity totaled 93 million barrels in 2023
- U.S. wind turbine count exceeded 72,000 units with average 2.1 MW size in 2023
- Coal rail transportation capacity handled 300 million tons in 2023
- U.S. EV charging ports reached 168,000 public stations in 2023
- Natural gas processing plant capacity was 55 Bcf/d inlet in 2023
- U.S. carbon capture capacity was 5,600 metric tons CO2 per day in 2023
- Refined products storage capacity was 700 million barrels in 2023
Capacity and Infrastructure Interpretation
Despite its sprawling fossil-fueled arteries and bulging gas-fired muscles, the U.S. energy grid is nervously sweating its renewable future, having merely dabbed on some solar and wind as a hopeful deodorant while nervously checking its still-meager battery life.
Consumption
- In 2023, U.S. total primary energy consumption was 93.59 quadrillion Btu (quads), down 2% from 2022
- Petroleum accounted for 36% of U.S. primary energy consumption in 2023, totaling 33.70 quads
- U.S. natural gas consumption reached 33.58 quads in 2023, 36% of total primary energy
- Electricity retail sales in the U.S. were 3,913 billion kWh in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022
- U.S. residential sector energy consumption was 21.65 quads in 2023, 23% of total
- Transportation sector consumed 27.10 quads of petroleum in 2023, 80% of sector total
- U.S. industrial sector natural gas use averaged 10.3 Bcf/d in 2023
- Gasoline consumption in U.S. highways was 8.78 million b/d in 2023
- U.S. commercial sector electricity use totaled 1,390 billion kWh in 2023
- Distillate fuel oil consumption was 3.95 million b/d in 2023, up 2% from 2022
- U.S. residential natural gas deliveries were 12.9 Bcf/d in 2023 heating season
- Jet fuel consumption recovered to 1.6 million b/d in 2023
- U.S. electric power sector coal consumption fell to 444 MMst in 2023
- Propane consumption in U.S. was 1.0 million b/d in 2023
- U.S. industrial electricity consumption was 1,015 billion kWh in 2023
- Heating oil consumption was 0.7 million b/d in 2023 Northeast region
- U.S. total energy consumption per capita was 279 million Btu in 2023
- Natural gas vehicles consumed 0.03 quads in 2023
- U.S. data center electricity use was 176 billion kWh in 2023, 4.4% of total
- Residential electricity use per household averaged 10,500 kWh in 2023
- U.S. chemical industry natural gas consumption was 4.5 quads in 2023
- Motor gasoline demand peaked at 9.2 million b/d in summer 2023
- U.S. electric vehicle electricity consumption was 20 billion kWh in 2023
- Commercial sector natural gas use was 3.2 quads in 2023
- U.S. steel industry coal consumption was 40 MMst in 2023
- Kerosene consumption totaled 0.05 million b/d in 2023
- U.S. total electricity end-use consumption grew 2.5% to 4,059 billion kWh in 2023
Consumption Interpretation
The engine of the American economy still runs overwhelmingly on fossil fuels—with petroleum and natural gas each claiming a lazy 36% of the pie—but the patient is showing vital signs of a slow and stubborn transition, with electricity demand quietly growing, coal coughing, and electric vehicles and data centers humming a faint but insistent tune for the future.
Employment and Economics
- U.S. energy employment totaled 6.7 million jobs in 2023, up 1.8% from 2022
- Oil and gas supported 2.4 million jobs in 2023, 36% of energy total
- Renewable energy jobs reached 3.4 million in 2023, 51% of total
- Electric power generation/transmission employed 852,000 in 2023
- U.S. energy sector GDP contribution was $1.1 trillion in 2023
- Coal mining employment was 40,000 in 2023, down 5% from 2022
- Solar industry employed 277,000 workers in 2023
- Upstream oil/gas investment was $135 billion in 2023
- Wind technicians jobs grew 5% to 120,000 in 2023
- U.S. retail gasoline sales generated $550 billion revenue in 2023
- LNG export value reached $60 billion in 2023
- Energy efficiency jobs totaled 2.4 million in 2023
- Pipeline transportation employed 50,000 in 2023
- Nuclear sector jobs were 100,000 in 2023
- Federal energy R&D spending was $8.3 billion in FY2023
- Texas energy jobs were 1.1 million in 2023
- EV manufacturing added 20,000 jobs in 2023
- Energy imports cost $300 billion in 2023
- Biofuels industry employed 350,000 in 2023
- U.S. household energy expenditures averaged $4,300 in 2023
- Refining sector contributed $100 billion to GDP in 2023
- Clean energy manufacturing jobs hit 200,000 in 2023
- Natural gas distribution employed 120,000 in 2023
- Energy trade balance surplus was $50 billion in 2023
Employment and Economics Interpretation
The American energy sector is a sprawling, often contradictory giant where the renewable workforce now officially outnumbers oil and gas, yet we still spend enough at the pump each year to buy a small country, proving that our transition is a messy, multi-trillion-dollar juggling act, not a light switch flip.
Environmental and Emissions
- In 2023, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions totaled 4,789 million metric tons (MMT), down 3% from 2022
- Power sector CO2 emissions fell 7% to 1,417 MMT in 2023, lowest since 1993
- Transportation CO2 emissions were 1,796 MMT in 2023, 38% of U.S. total
- U.S. methane emissions from natural gas systems were 172 MMT CO2 equivalent in 2021 (latest detailed)
- Coal combustion released 1,089 MMT CO2 in 2023, down 11% from 2022
- Wind energy avoided 370 MMT CO2 emissions cumulatively since 2014
- U.S. SO2 emissions from electricity generation dropped to 1.1 million tons in 2023
- NOx emissions from U.S. power plants were 1.6 million tons in 2023
- Solar power offset 140 MMT CO2 in 2023
- U.S. industrial CO2 emissions totaled 1,084 MMT in 2023
- Residential/commercial CO2 was 492 MMT in 2023
- U.S. oil and gas sector flared 1.4 Bcf/d natural gas in 2023
- Hydropower avoided 50 MMT CO2 annually
- U.S. total GHG emissions were 6,343 MMT CO2e in 2021 (latest)
- Coal mine methane emissions were 1.5 MMT CH4 in 2023
- EV adoption avoided 400,000 metric tons CO2 in 2023
- U.S. refineries emitted 180 MMT CO2 in 2023
- Nuclear power avoided 471 MMT CO2 in 2023
- Water use for thermoelectric power was 40 billion gallons/day in 2023
- U.S. landfilled energy waste was 62 quads in 2023
- Bioenergy CO2 emissions netted zero under lifecycle, 0.5 quads in 2023
- Geothermal avoided 4 MMT CO2 in 2023
- U.S. oil spills from pipelines averaged 0.3 million barrels/year 2018-2023
- PM2.5 emissions from energy sources fell 25% 2013-2023
- CCS projects captured 10 MMT CO2 cumulatively by 2023
- Fracking water use was 20 billion gallons for gas in 2023
- U.S. energy intensity declined 2.2% to 5,905 Btu/$2017 GDP in 2023
- Wind farms impacted 1.3 million acres cumulatively by 2023
Environmental and Emissions Interpretation
The energy transition is a messy, grinding tango where we celebrate the power sector's two-steps back from coal while wincing at transportation's stubborn lead, all performed on a stage of persistent methane leaks, wasted gas, and sprawling wind farms, proving that decarbonizing an economy is less a sprint than a clumsy, yet determined, stumble toward progress.
Production
- In 2023, U.S. crude oil production reached a record average of 12.9 million barrels per day (b/d), surpassing the previous record set in 2019
- U.S. dry natural gas production averaged 103.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023, up 0.5 Bcf/d or 0.5% from 2022
- Permian Basin accounted for 46% of total U.S. crude oil production in 2023, producing about 5.9 million b/d
- U.S. total petroleum production, including crude oil, natural gas plant liquids, and biofuels, averaged 21.8 million b/d in 2023
- Coal production in the U.S. totaled 578.6 million short tons (MMst) in 2023, a 3% decrease from 2022
- U.S. wind power capacity additions reached 6,902 MW in 2023, representing 36% of all new utility-scale capacity
- Solar photovoltaic generation contributed 3.9% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2023, totaling 240 billion kWh
- U.S. nuclear electricity net generation was 775 billion kWh in 2023, accounting for 18.6% of total U.S. electricity
- U.S. ethanol production averaged 1.04 million b/d in 2023, with total production reaching 15.6 billion gallons
- Wyoming led U.S. coal production with 243 MMst in 2023, followed by West Virginia at 82 MMst
- U.S. shale gas production contributed 86% of total dry natural gas production in 2023
- Texas produced 5.6 million b/d of crude oil in December 2023, 43% of U.S. total
- U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) production averaged 12.0 Bcf/d in 2023, up 11% from 2022
- Utility-scale solar capacity grew by 32.4 GW in 2023, the largest annual increase on record
- U.S. geothermal electricity generation was 15.8 billion kWh in 2023, from 2.7 GW capacity
- Bakken formation produced 1.2 million b/d of crude oil in 2023
- U.S. coal mine production employment averaged 40,684 in 2023
- Hydroelectric power generated 239 billion kWh in 2023, 5.7% of U.S. total electricity
- U.S. biodiesel production reached 1.8 billion gallons in 2023
- Eagle Ford shale produced 1.1 million b/d crude oil in 2023
- U.S. natural gas plant liquids production averaged 6.7 million b/d in 2023
- Niobrara formation contributed 0.5 million b/d to U.S. crude production in 2023
- U.S. wind electricity generation hit 434 billion kWh in 2023, 10.3% of total U.S. power
- Powder River Basin produced 174 MMst coal in 2023
- U.S. propane production from natural gas processing was 1.5 million b/d in 2023
- Appalachia region natural gas production was 32 Bcf/d in 2023
- U.S. utility-scale battery storage capacity added 9.2 GW in 2023
- Anadarko Basin dry gas production averaged 8.5 Bcf/d in 2023
- U.S. renewable diesel production reached 2.5 billion gallons in 2023
- Haynesville shale gas production was 16.5 Bcf/d in 2023
- U.S. petroleum coke production totaled 0.4 million b/d in 2023
Production Interpretation
In 2023, America's energy landscape became a tale of two transitions: a record-breaking surge in oil and gas production, crowned by the Permian Basin and shale, marched stubbornly onward while wind, solar, and storage quietly but forcefully built their revolutionary army on the grid.
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