Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources such as petroleum, natural gas and coal. With primary energy consumption at around 2.3 billion metric tons of oil equivalent, the United States is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Despite increased domestic oil and natural gas production, this nation imported fossil fuels to the value of about 400 billion U.S. dollars in 2011.

Within the U.S. economy, the electric power sector is the largest consumer of fossil fuels. The sector generated around 1.7 petawatt hours of electricity derived from coal in 2011. In 2010, Peabody Energy Corporation was the largest coal producer in the United States. The Missouri-based company generated approximately 6.7 billion U.S. dollars in revenue that year.

• Primary energy consumption in selected countries in 2011
• Consumption of fossil fuel energy in the U.S.
• U.S. natural gas production
• U.S. oil production
• Ranking of U.S.-based oil and gas companies

Photo: istockphoto.com / noraluca013

• • Domestic consumption of fossil fuels
  • The U.S. fossil fuel industry
• • Fossil fuel prices and expenditure
  • Trade