U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to Europe increased during the first 4 months of 2022
During the first four months of 2022, the United States exported 74% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe, compared with an annual average of 34% last year, according to our recently released Natural Gas Monthly and EIA estimates for April 2022. In 2020 and 2021, Asia had been the main destination for U.S. […]
Record U.S. natural gas demand this winter led to largest storage withdrawal in four years
Net withdrawals of natural gas from U.S. storage totaled 2,264 billion cubic feet (Bcf) this winter (November through March). This amount is the most natural gas withdrawn from storage since the winter of 2017–18 and 10% more than the previous five-year (2016–17 to 2021–22) average, according our recently released Natural Gas Monthly, which includes data […]
NERC assessment highlights potential electricity reliability concern for central U.S.
Higher electricity demand forecasts and potential supply reductions are raising concerns about tight reserve margins in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) balancing authority this summer. Working in conjunction with regional utility service providers, balancing authorities are responsible for ensuring that wholesale electric power markets provide sufficient electric generation capacity to meet consumer demand, both […]
Natural gas production in the Permian Basin reached an annual high in 2021
Marketed natural gas production from the Permian Basin in western Texas and eastern New Mexico reached a new annual high of 16.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2021. Annual marketed natural gas production in the Permian Basin has been rising steadily since 2012.
California drought could reduce hydroelectric generation to half of normal levels
As part of a supplement to our Short-Term Energy Outlook, we analyzed how drought conditions could affect hydroelectric generation in California this summer. California hydroelectric generation would be 48% less this summer in an alternative case that assumes drought conditions compared with a case that assumes relatively normal water conditions. This shortfall would need to […]
Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020
According to the most recent results from the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 88% of U.S. households use air conditioning (AC). Two-thirds of U.S. households use central AC or a central heat pump as their main AC equipment.
Memorial Day real gasoline prices highest since 2012, near record levels
On May 23, heading into this Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline was $4.59 per gallon (gal), the highest inflation-adjusted (real) price since 2012. On a nominal basis, this price is the all-time highest price for gasoline recorded in our weekly Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, which dates back to […]
Beneficial use of power sector combustion byproducts exceeded material disposed in 2020
Combusting fuel for electricity generation creates solid byproducts, which have decreased in recent years as some fuels—especially coal, the source of nearly all of these byproducts—have been used less frequently in the United States. In 2020, for the first time since we began collecting these data in 2008, larger amounts of these byproducts were put […]
European petroleum tanker rates rise due to geopolitical instability and marine fuel costs
Petroleum tanker rates for routes originating in Europe rose to record highs in April 2022 because of geopolitical instability related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and rising marine fuel prices, also known as bunker fuel. Dirty tanker rates for Aframax-sized vessels originating in the Black Sea in southeast Europe increased to $32.10 per metric […]
FERC approves new natural gas pipeline projects to increase U.S. exports
Our recently updated Natural Gas Pipeline Project Tracker tracks recently approved and completed natural gas pipeline projects. In the first quarter of 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved three projects intended to increase U.S. natural gas exports via pipeline and as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Our tracker also lists pipelines that were completed […]