Trystan Casey
Electricity is a secondary energy source that is generated from the conversion of other sources of energy, known as primary sources. These primary sources can be renewable or non-renewable, but the electricity itself is neither. In the US, fossil fuels are the most common source of electricity generation, with natural gas being the primary source in 19 states, providing at least 50% of electricity in nine states. Coal is another major source of electricity, with 400 coal-powered plants in the US, although its use has been steadily declining. Other sources of electricity in the US include nuclear power, solar power, wind power, hydropower, and oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average electricity consumption per household | 10,715 kilowatt hours (kWh) a year |
| Electricity generation from fossil fuels | 60.6% in 2020 |
| Electricity generation from nuclear power | 19.7% in 2020 |
| Electricity generation from renewables | 19.8% in 2020 |
| Number of natural gas-powered electricity plants | 1,793 |
| Electricity generation from natural gas | 34% |
| Number of coal-powered electric plants | 400 |
| Electricity generation from coal | 30% |
| Number of nuclear electric plants | 61 |
| Electricity generation from nuclear energy | 20% |
| Number of solar-powered electric plants | 1,721 |
| Electricity generation from solar power | 1% |
| Number of oil-powered electric plants | 1,076 |
| Electricity generation from oil | 0.5% |
| Greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas | 116.65 pounds of CO2 per million BTUs |
| Greenhouse gas emissions from solar and wind energy | 0 pounds of CO2 |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels
The use of fossil fuels, particularly coal, is a significant contributor to pollution emission levels in the power sector. Coal combustion is the single largest source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and the second-largest source of nitrogen oxides (NOX), which contribute to fine particulate matter (PM) pollution. However, there are technologies available to reduce these emissions, such as selective catalytic and non-catalytic reduction (SCR and SNCR) and combustion controls.
While fossil fuels remain the dominant source of electricity generation, there is a growing trend towards renewable energy sources. In 2023, renewable energy sources, including wind, hydropower, solar power, biomass, and geothermal, accounted for about 21% of electricity generation. Additionally, the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has the potential to reduce demand on distribution infrastructure by generating electricity near the point of use.
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Nuclear power
The Palo Verde nuclear power plant in Arizona is the second-largest nuclear power plant in the US in terms of generation capacity, with three reactors and a capacity of 3,937 MW. The Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia is projected to become the largest nuclear power plant in the US by early 2024, with four reactors and a total generation capacity of 4,536 MW.
Nuclear energy has been recognised as a safer and cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. It has a significantly lower carbon footprint and results in fewer deaths compared to coal, oil, and gas. However, the number of reactors in the US has declined since 2012, and nuclear power accounts for only about 20% of the country's electricity generation, with natural gas and coal being more prominent sources.
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Solar power
In the United States, solar power has become an increasingly important source of electricity generation. As of 2024, the United States had 239 gigawatts (GW) of installed photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power capacity combined, making it one of the top countries in the world in electricity generated by the sun. The growth of solar power in the US has been driven by both utility-scale and small-scale installations. In 2024, utility-scale solar power generated 218.5 terawatt-hours (TWh), while the total solar generation, including small-scale PV systems, was 303.2 TWh.
The US has a long history of research and development in solar power technology. The oldest solar power plant in the world is the 354-megawatt (MW) Solar Energy Generating Systems thermal power plant in California. Other notable solar power plants in the US include the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in the Mojave Desert and the Solana Generating Station in Arizona.
Despite the many benefits of solar power, it currently makes up a small portion of the US energy mix. However, there is potential for significant growth in the industry. A report in 2008 projected that solar power could contribute up to 10% of the nation's power needs by 2025, with solar PV systems providing more than 8% of the country's electricity. To achieve this goal, solar PV companies are working to simplify the deployment of solar systems and make them more accessible to consumers.
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Wind power
Wind energy refers to the process of creating electricity using wind or air flows that occur naturally in the Earth's atmosphere. Modern wind turbines capture kinetic energy from the wind to generate electricity. The wind blows across the blades of the turbine, turning a shaft connected to a generator. Some wind turbines use a gearbox to convert the blade rotor's low-speed, high-torque power into high-speed, low-torque power, while others are direct-drive, which directly excites the electricity generator components. Wind turbines use a variety of drivetrain designs and can be manufactured by a range of domestic and international companies.
There are three main types of wind turbines: utility-scale, offshore wind, and distributed or "small" wind. Utility-scale wind turbines range in size from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts and are the most common type of wind turbine installed. Offshore wind turbines are larger than land-based turbines, are erected in large bodies of water, and can generate more power. Distributed or "small" wind turbines are a smaller but fast-growing proportion of wind energy generation.
Wind turbines produce DC power, which is converted to AC electricity by power converters and transferred to cables buried throughout the wind farm. High-voltage electricity is then delivered to the utility-scale power grid and transmitted to homes, businesses, and other end users. Modern wind turbines typically start generating electricity when wind speeds reach six to nine miles per hour and shut down if winds exceed roughly 55 miles per hour to prevent equipment damage.
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Hydropower
How Hydropower Generates Electricity
The US has significant hydropower potential, with thousands of megawatts (MW) of capacity. In 2019, hydropower capacity was 80.25 GW, accounting for 6.6% to 6.7% of US electricity generation. The top states for hydropower generation capacity are Washington, California, and Oregon, with Washington's Grand Coulee Dam being the largest hydropower facility in the country.
Pumped-Storage Hydroelectricity
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a form of hydropower that uses water pumped to a higher elevation and released through generators during high electricity demand. While it does not create a net gain in power, it enables peak demand balancing. Most pumped-storage facilities have a net negative annual electricity generation balance, and only a small percentage of dams in the US produce electricity.
Environmental Concerns
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewables are the primary sources of electricity in the US. Fossil fuels accounted for 60.6% of the total electricity production in the US in 2020, with natural gas being the most common source for electricity generation. Nuclear power was responsible for 19.7% of electricity production, and renewables were responsible for 19.8%.
Fossil fuel plants burn coal, oil, or gas to create heat, which is used to generate steam. This steam drives a turbine that generates electricity.
Nuclear power plants use a process called nuclear fission, which involves splitting atoms to create energy. Uranium atoms are split when they are hit by a neutron, releasing heat and radiation, and creating more neutrons.
Renewable energy sources for electricity generation in the US include solar, wind, and hydropower. Solar power is used predominantly in the Southwest, where sunlight is most abundant, and wind energy is harnessed using wind turbines. Hydropower involves storing water in reservoirs behind dams and using the flow of water to turn turbines.
