Hydropower generation expected to recover despite snow drought in the West
In our April Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect U.S. hydropower generation will increase by 5% in 2026 but remain 1.8% below the 10-year average following snow drought conditions in some states. Hydropower generation in 2025 increased to 245 billion kilowatthours (BkWh), about 4 BkWh more than the record-low generation year 2024. In 2026, we […]
U.S. coal-fired generating capacity retired in 2025 was the least in 15 years
During 2025, the U.S. electric power sector retired 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired generating capacity at four power plants, the least since 2010. At the beginning of 2025, coal plant operators had planned to retire 8.5 GW of capacity; however, 4.8 GW of planned retirements were delayed to a future year, and the operators of […]
Increasing fuel efficiency leads to decreasing gasoline consumption
Annual motor gasoline consumption in the United States decreased in 2025 even as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased because of increasing fuel efficiency, a trend we forecast will continue in 2026 and 2027. U.S. motor gasoline consumption averaged 8.9 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2025, 1% less than 2024 and 4% less than pre-pandemic […]
Domestic and international demand drive natural gas production growth
In our Annual Energy Outlook 2026 (AEO2026), we project U.S. dry natural gas production, which accounted for 38% of total U.S. energy production in 2025, will increase significantly over the next several decades, meeting growing domestic and international natural gas demand.
Crude oil and petroleum product prices increased sharply in the first quarter of 2026
Crude oil and petroleum product prices increased significantly in the first quarter of 2026 (1Q26), particularly following military action in the Middle East on February 28 and the subsequent de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In this quarterly update, we review petroleum markets price developments in 1Q26, covering crude oil prices, petroleum product […]
The Middle East Gulf was source for 8% of 2025 U.S. crude oil imports
In 2025, the United States imported an average of 490,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil from the Middle East Gulf region—Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Crude oil imports from the region are primarily medium sour grades of crude oil and flow mainly into the West […]
Rooftop solar photovoltaic systems account for 20% of Puerto Rico’s capacity mix
Rooftop solar generating capacity in Puerto Rico totaled 1,456 megawatts (MW) at the end of 2025, 20% of the overall capacity mix. Rooftop solar capacity has increased faster than other sources over the past decade. Between 2016 and 2025 rooftop solar installations accounted for 81% of the new generating capacity in Puerto Rico, according to […]
U.S. coal exports decreased in 2025 after four years of growth
After four years of growth, U.S. coal exports decreased by 16 million short tons (MMst) in 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Exports totaled 93 MMst in 2025, compared with 108 MMst in 2024. Thermal coal exports fell by 18%, and metallurgical coal exports fell by 11%.
U.S. crude oil production rose in 2025, setting new record
U.S. crude oil production grew by 3%, or 350,000 barrels per day (b/d), in 2025, setting a new annual production record of 13.6 million b/d, according to our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Production from the Lower 48 states excluding the Gulf of America (L48) accounted for 11.3 million b/d, or 83% of the total […]
Natural gas liquids exports reached record highs in 2025
Natural gas liquids (NGL) exports reached 3.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2025, growing 7% from the previous year. These fuels are primarily extracted from the natural gas stream. NGL plant production has increased every year since 2005, driven by higher production of NGLs and more global demand for NGLs, especially as petrochemical feedstocks.