US Energy Landscape Shifts: Natural Gas Surpasses Petroleum
The US energy landscape is undergoing significant changes as natural gas gains ground on petroleum. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, natural gas comprised 36% of US energy consumption in 2025, compared with 37% for petroleum. This trend is expected to continue, with natural gas likely to take the lead by the end of the decade.
The growth of natural gas can be attributed to several factors, including the advent of fracking and horizontal drilling in the 2000s. These technologies have unlocked vast amounts of previously uneconomic gas reserves, making the US the world's largest producer of natural gas. The increasing output has also pushed natural gas past coal as the nation's largest power-plant fuel.
Additionally, growing demand for electricity due to electric vehicle use, data-center buildouts, and manufacturing have contributed to the rise of natural gas. However, it remains uncertain how long natural gas will lead the way, given the rapid growth of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.