Conventional Energy Resources

Oil

• The U.S. Department of Energy describes oil as "the lifeblood of America's economy." More than 40 percent of total energy used in the U.S. comes from oil, or about 18.8 million barrels per day. Of the fuels used for transportation, such as in cars and trucks, 99 percent comes from oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the country faces two constant and immediate oil-related concerns: "an immediate readiness to respond to oil supply disruptions and keeping America's oil fields producing in the future." These concerns can be best understood when viewed in a global context.

  As of 2009, the U.S. imported 63 percent of oil, or 11.7 million barrels per day, from foreign countries. The top five import sources are Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that, at current consumption levels, the global supply of oil will be adequate for another 25 years, a figure that is surrounded by "substantial uncertainty about the levels of future oil supply and demand." The U.S's heavy reliance on oil also poses environmental issues. Oil production and consumption are responsible for about 42 percent of the country's carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural Gas

• According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 900 of the next 1,000 power plants constructed will use natural gas, reflecting an increase in the fuel's popularity. In 2008, the U.S. consumed 23 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Natural gas resources provide about 30 percent of electrical power overall, including 29 percent of energy used in industrial applications and 21 percent of the residential energy supply. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that more than 550 trillion cubic feet of dry and wet natural gas reserves lie within U.S. borders. Natural gas production and consumption is responsible for about 22 percent of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions.

Coal

• The U.S. Department of Energy describes coal as "one of the true measures of the energy strength of the United States," as one quarter of the world's coal resources are thought to be inside U.S. borders. More than half of the nation's electricity comes from 5,400 coal-powered plants, and the world's coal resources are believed to contain more energy potential than the world's oil resources. In 2009, the U.S. exported more than 26.2 million short tons of coal and imported 22.6 million tons. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that 17,468 million short tons of recoverable coal reserves exist in the U.S. Top coal producing states include Wyoming, West Virginia and Kentucky. Coal production and consumption create 36 percent of the U.S.'s carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions.