<P> United States total primary energy consumption by fuel in 2015 </P> <P> The United States was the second - largest energy consumer in 2010 (after China) considering total use . The nation is ranked seventh in energy consumption per - capita after Canada and several small nations . Not included is the significant amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the U.S. </P> <P> Most of this energy comes from fossil fuels: in 2010, data showed that 25% of the nation's energy originates from petroleum, 22% from coal, and 22% from natural gas . Nuclear power supplied 8.4% and renewable energy supplied 8%, mainly from hydroelectric dams and biomass; however, this also includes other renewable sources like wind power, geothermal, and solar energy . As of 2006, energy consumption had increased more rapidly than domestic energy production over the last 50 years in the nation (when they were roughly equal). This difference was largely met through imports . </P> <P> According to the Energy Information Administration's statistics, the per - capita energy consumption in the US has somewhat been consistent from the 1970s to the present time . The average was about 334 million British thermal units (BTUs) per person from 1980 to 2010 . One explanation suggested that the energy required to increase the nation's consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the US with a corresponding shift of green house gases and pollution . In comparison, the world average increased from 63.7 in 1980 to 75 million BTUs per person in 2008 . </P>

Where does the us get most of its energy