Fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum constitute the bulk of the nation’s energy consumption.  Nuclear power contributes about twenty percent of our annual electricity supply.  Alternative energy sources, such as hydroelectric, solar, fuel cells, and wind power provide about 11 percent of our electricity.  

Coal

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) figures show that coal currently accounts for more than 52 percent of the electricity produced in the United States.  Historically, coal has been inexpensive compared to other fossil fuels, and its abundance helps to keep costs low.  The DOE predicts that even more coal will be used well into the future as demand for energy continues to rise.      

New technologies are making coal “cleaner” by 

• reducing air pollutants such as NOx while burning the coal 
• increasing the efficiency of generating power with coal  
• changing coal into cleaner forms of fuel  

New & Improved Technologies 

• The DOE has received 24 proposals for clean coal projects totaling nearly $535 million.  $251 million of which is requested from the Federal government, which is offering $95 million for what will be known as the Power Plant Improvement Initiative. Read more>>    
• DOE studies show that low-polluting clean coal burners, now producing 56,000 megawatts of energy, have resulted in reducing nitrogen oxides, NOx, by nearly 40 percent. NOx is a pollutant contributing to smog, ground-level ozone, and acid rain.  Read more>>   
• For more information on clean coal technologies, see the DOE’s Clean Coal website. 

Gas  

Natural gas accounts for about 16 percent of the nation’s current electric power generation and nearly all the planned additional generation.  Also, gas supplies almost half of all the energy used for cooking, heating, and energizing other kinds of home appliances, according to DOE statistics.  

New & Improved Technologies 

• Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced 11 new public-private projects focused on developing high-tech ways to improve the safety and performance of the nation's gas distribution system.  Read more>> 
• Industry is invited to bid on a commercial lease of the Equilon Sugarland oil reserve terminal in the Mississippi Valley.  Read more>> 
• The annual $90 billion natural gas market has been deeply affected by federal deregulation, particularly in the areas of gas infrastructure and storage.  Read more>> 
• Read about DOE’s research and development into producing cleaner fuels.  Read more>> 

Nuclear 

About 20 percent of the nation's energy is generated by approximately 104 nuclear power plants.  US DOE statistics show that annual nuclear generation surpassed 700 billion kilowatt hours, the highest level yet attained. The 1999 total nuclear generation was 727,913 million kilowatt hours, an increase of 8 percent over the 1998 level. It was approximately 53 billion more kilowatt hours than the prior record of 674,729 million kilowatt hours set in 1996.  For more information, see the US DOE Energy Information Administration website.

Oil

DOE statistics show that world oil prices fell sharply through most of 1997 and 1998.  Beginning in 1999, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-OPEC countries restrained oil production, resulting in an increase in world oil prices.  U.S. oil reserves hold approximately 542 million barrels of crude oil, which would provide just over 50 days of inventory protection.    

• Overview of new techniques and technologies that enhance reservoir efficiency.  Read more> 
• Advanced diagnostic and imaging techniques streamline and improve drilling efficiency.  Read more>> 
• Read about DOE’s research and development into producing cleaner fuels.  Read more>   
• For more information on fossil fuels, visit the DOE fossil fuels website.