{"id":387130,"date":"2025-07-05T20:31:59","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T18:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=387130"},"modified":"2025-07-05T20:32:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T18:32:24","slug":"we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-there-is-no-energy-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=387130","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that\u201d there is no energy transition!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guest \u201cMake the EIA Great Again!\u201d by David Middleton<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 2, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has U.S. energy use changed since 1776?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Data source:\u00a0<\/strong>U.S. Energy Information Administration,\u00a0<\/em>Monthly Energy Review<\/em><\/a>
Data values:\u00a0<\/strong>Primary Energy Consumption by Source<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Estimated primary energy consumption in the United States, selected years, 1635\u20131945<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

In 2024, the United States consumed about 94 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy, a 1% increase from 2023, according to our\u00a0Monthly Energy Review<\/em><\/a>. Fossil fuels\u2014petroleum, natural gas, and coal\u2014accounted for 82% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2024. Non fossil fuel energy\u2014from renewables and nuclear energy\u2014accounted for the other 18%. Petroleum remained the most-consumed fuel in the United States, as it has been for the past 75 years, and\u00a0nuclear energy consumption exceeded coal<\/a>\u00a0consumption for the first time ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, wood<\/a>, a renewable energy source, was the largest source of energy in the United States. Used for heating, cooking, and lighting, wood remained the largest U.S. energy source until the late 1800s, when coal consumption became more common. Wood energy is still consumed, mainly by industrial lumber and paper plants that burn excess wood waste to generate electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coal<\/a> was the largest source of U.S. energy for about 65 years, from 1885 until 1950. Early uses of coal included many purposes that are no longer common, such as in stoves for home heating and in engines for trains and ships. Since the 1960s, nearly all coal consumed in the United States has been for electricity generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petroleum<\/a> has been the most-consumed source of energy in the United States since 1950. Petroleum products such as motor gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and propane are commonly used across all sectors of the U.S. economy, from transportation to industrial chemicals and plastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural gas<\/a> is the second-largest source of U.S. energy consumption, as it has been most years since it surpassed coal in 1958. Natural gas was once considered a waste byproduct of crude oil production but now has become a common energy source for heating and electricity generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early use of water to power grist, lumber, and other milling operations is not well quantified and not included in our data, but such mills were common throughout early U.S. history. The first industrial use of hydropower<\/a> to generate electricity in the United States was to power lamps at a chair factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1880. The world\u2019s first hydroelectric power plant to sell electricity to the public opened on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1882.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other forms of renewable energy did not become significant contributors to U.S. energy production until more recently. In 2016, biofuels<\/a>\u2014including the fuel ethanol mixed in motor gasoline\u2014became the most-consumed U.S. renewable energy source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Data source:\u00a0<\/strong>U.S. Energy Information Administration,\u00a0<\/em>Monthly Energy Review<\/em><\/a>
Data values:\u00a0<\/strong>Renewable Energy Consumption by Source<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Estimated primary energy consumption in the United States, selected years, 1635\u20131945<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Electricity generation from some zero-carbon sources, such as wind and solar, has increased rapidly<\/a> in recent years, while generation from others, such as hydropower<\/a> and nuclear<\/a>, has remained relatively flat. In 2022, U.S. energy consumption from renewable sources surpassed nuclear<\/a> energy for the first time since 1984, and in 2023, renewables surpassed coal for the first time since around the early 1880s. The United States now consumes more energy from wind and solar sources individually than from hydropower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To compare different forms of energy, we convert to common units of heat, called British thermal units<\/a>. Appendix A<\/a> of our Monthly Energy Review<\/em> has the conversion factors that we use for each energy source, and Appendix E<\/a> explains how we convert noncombustible renewable energy sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principal contributor: <\/strong>Mickey Francis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tags: <\/strong>consumption\/demand<\/a>, coal<\/a>, oil\/petroleum<\/a>, natural gas<\/a>, hydroelectric<\/a>, biofuels<\/a>, nuclear<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US EIA<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

We never transitioned from wood to coal. In 2024, we consumed as much energy from wood as we did in ~1900.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We simply add new energy sources on top of legacy sources.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The notion that we are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables is patently absurd.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Guess what? We really did have an energy transition. From 1860 to 1920, we literally did transition from renewables to fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I stand corrected. If I have to explain sarcasm, there\u2019s no point in being sarcastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy Fourth of July! Happy 249th birthday to the USA!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

In Congress, July 4, 1776<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,<\/strong> When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature\u2019s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[\u2026]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Archives<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLife, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness\u201d powered by fossil fuels!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Life Expectancy:\u00a0Our World in Data<\/a>, Energy Consumption:\u00a0Bjorn Lomborg, 2020<\/a>\u00a0and CO2<\/sub>
(Wood for Trees<\/a>,\u00a0MacFarling Meure et al., 2006<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2024, the United States consumed about 94 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy, a 1% increase from 2023, according to our\u00a0Monthly Energy Review. Fossil fuels\u2014petroleum, natural gas, and coal\u2014accounted for 82% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2024. Non fossil fuel energy\u2014from renewables and nuclear energy\u2014accounted for the other 18%. Petroleum remained the most-consumed fuel in the United States, as it has been for the past 75 years, and\u00a0nuclear energy consumption exceeded coal\u00a0consumption for the first time ever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":387149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818618,691818228,691819094,691836236],"class_list":["post-387130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-energy-transition","tag-fossil-fuels","tag-renewable-green-energy","tag-us-energy","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNFMMWc-8oekTyGzWZXgrvt8lkvbxDpYLNMgx2wgzNV5uETGsXlWWmsLVUMhUr2KWeE2JzElOnHksibgOUDNXWS9rGqz-GaSo60zx3AtOYKZ_ajj76J440ZDk8P3pnFW1sGUJWCCBfNkTX28mbwCSILnypNfA-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1CI2","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":238075,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=238075","url_meta":{"origin":387130,"position":0},"title":"You Wicked Planet Wrecking Coffee Drinker \u2013 Think of the Climate Impact!","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Sounds impressive until you realize that 83% of the added energy consumption in 2021 was supplied by fossil fuels, which means renewables are losing ground and fossil fuels are gaining. 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By Andy May h\/t Wim R\u00f6st The Universidad de las Hesp\u00e9rides is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Canary Islands\"","block_context":{"text":"Canary Islands","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=canary-islands"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0energy-solar-panels-wind-farm-sunset.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=387130"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":387151,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387130\/revisions\/387151"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/387149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=387130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=387130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=387130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}