The Most Consumed Fuel by State

I saw a very interesting graphic several days ago that shows the most consumed fuel in every state in the US:

Most Consumed Fuel by State

Image Credit: Movoto


In 49 of 50 states, fossil fuels were the most consumed fuel. South Carolina was the single exception, where nuclear power was the most consumed fuel.

Coal consumption predominates in coal-producing states like West Virginia, Kentucky, and Wyoming, while unsurprisingly oil is the most consumed fuel in Texas. In fact, oil is the most consumed fuel in more than half of the US (although Michigan seems to be broken into North and South Michigan), including in states that we typically identify as the “greenest.”

Despite the inroads made by renewable energy in recent years, I suspect it’s going to be a while before you see renewable power make an appearance on a graphic like this. Actually that may not be true in some states with significant hydropower, where that already makes up a significant fraction of electrical generation.

By Robert Rapier. You can find me on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Author: Robert Rapier

Robert Rapier is a seasoned chemical engineer with three decades of international experience in the energy sector. He holds undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics, and a master’s in chemical engineering. Robert has worked extensively in oil refining, production, synthetic fuels, biomass energy, and alcohol production, earning several patents along the way. As Editor-in-Chief of Shale Magazine and a prolific author for Investing Daily, he shares his expertise through various newsletters and his latest book, American Energy: A History of Power, Progress, and Change. Robert's insights have been featured on 60 Minutes, The History Channel, CNBC, and PBS, among others. His articles have appeared in top publications like the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and The Economist. For nearly a decade, he has covered the energy sector for Forbes.