Where does our energy come from? The U.S. Department of Energy publishes data on the many energy sources we use in this country.

The majority of the energy we use comes from the fossil fuels: 38% from oil, 22% from coal, and 23% from natural gas. The remaining 17% is supplied about equally by nuclear and renewable energy sources. About 29% of our energy supply is currently imported — almost all of it as crude oil.

Energy consumption has changed drastically over the past four hundred years (see chart graphic above). Most striking is the overall rise in energy use, particularly fossil fuels, during the 20th century. Annual consumption of oil and natural gas eclipsed coal in 1947, and quadrupled in a single generation.