Three fossil fuels – petroleum, natural gas, and coal – have provided more than 80% of total US energy consumption for more than 100 years. In 2015, fossil fuels made up 81.5% of total US energy consumption, the lowest fossil fuel share in the past century. In EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2016 Reference case projections, which reflect current laws and policies, that percentage declines to 76.6% by 2040.
Policy changes or technology breakthroughs that go beyond the trend improvements included in the Reference case could significantly change that projection.
