US Primary Energy Use Hits New High In 2018, Biggest Annual Rise Since 2010 - Energy Dept.

Primary energy consumption in the United States reached a record high of 101.3 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2018, up 4 percent from 2017, the Energy Information Administration said in a report on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th April, 2019) Primary energy consumption in the United States reached a record high of 101.3 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2018, up 4 percent from 2017, the Energy Information Administration said in a report on Tuesday.

"The increase in 2018 was the largest increase in energy consumption, in both absolute and percentage terms, since 2010," the release said.

The yearly rise was 0.3 percent above the previous record annual increase set in 2007, the report noted.

Consumption of fossil fuels - petroleum, natural gas, and coal - grew by 4 percent in 2018 and accounted for 80 percent of US total energy consumption, the report said.

Among fossil fuels, natural gas consumption reached a record high, rising by 10 percent from 2017, the report also said.

Increased use of natural gas, along with relatively smaller increases in the consumption of petroleum fuels, renewable energy and nuclear electric power, more than offset a 4 percent decline in coal consumption, the report added.