The US Produced More Energy than Ever Before in 2024 - CleanTechnica

In 2024, the United States achieved a record high in total energy production, surpassing 103 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), marking a 1% increase over the previous record set in 2023. Key contributors to this growth included natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids (NGPL), biofuels, solar, and wind energy, each setting new domestic production records. Natural gas remained the largest source of U.S. energy since 2011, accounting for nearly 38 trillion cubic feet in 2024, consistent with 2023 levels. Crude oil production also hit a record, increasing by 2%, primarily driven by output from the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. Conversely, coal production declined to its lowest annual output since 1964, reflecting a long-term decrease since coal was the dominant energy source from 1984 through 2010. NGPLs, which include fuels like ethane and propane associated with natural gas, accounted for about 9% of total U.S. energy production and rose 7% from 2023, continuing a growth trend since 2005. Renewable energy sources such as biofuels, wind, and solar also set production records, contributing to the overall energy increase. Notably, biofuel production, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), reached 1.4 million barrels per day, a 6% rise from the previous year. The article highlights that while some traditional energy sources used primarily for electricity generation have peaked decades ago, the U.S. continues to diversify its energy mix with increasing contributions from renewables and cleaner fuels. The data referenced in the article comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and uses standardized energy units (Btu) to compare different energy types. The report underscores the ongoing transition in U.S. energy production, with fossil fuels like natural gas and oil still dominant but renewable and alternative energy sources growing rapidly. The article also encourages readers to engage with CleanTechnica’s content for further analysis and updates on energy trends.