August 29, 2001—The US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its full Annual Energy Review 2000—EIA’s comprehensive statistical, historical overview of energy. Where possible, data are provided for 1949-2000 in data tables and graphs for production, consumption, trade, storage, pricing, and reserves of all major forms of energy. In addition to summaries of total energy, sections focus on petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear, renewable energy, financial indicators, environmental indicators, and international energy. Also included this year is an all-new introductory section, “Energy Perspectives,” that summarizes key energy trends and milestones from 1949-2000.
Some of the report’s key findings:
- renewable energy meets just seven percent of US energy needs;
- 46 percent of US renewable energy comes primarily from hydropower, and 38 percent comes from wood;
- although solar energy is only about 1 percent of the total US renewable energy production, US production of photovoltaic solar cells has increased from less than 10,000 kilowatts of solar capacity in 1982 to a record 77,000 kilowatts of solar capacity produced in 2000—the bulk of which were exported to other countries.
- US per capita energy consumption peaked in 1978 and 1979 and dropped in the early 1980s, but is now creeping back up to near those peak values; and
- energy use per dollar of gross domestic product has steadily decreased since 1950.
For the complete report, visit the EIA Web site.
