Natural gas is closing in on petroleum as America's top fuel source for the first time since 1950
By
Hillary Remy
Summary
The U.S. energy market is on the verge of a historic shift: natural gas is rapidly closing in on petroleum as the nation's dominant fuel source for the first time since 1950, when petroleum overtook coal. According to EIA data, petroleum accounted for 37% of U.S. energy consumption in 2025 versus 36% for natural gas — a razor-thin margin. The article explains the drivers behind natural gas's rise, including its growing use in electricity generation, industrial applications, and LNG exports, while petroleum demand is projected to grow only modestly at 0.6%.
Source
bskyNatural gas is closing in on petroleum as America's top fuel source for the first time since 1950bit.lyKey quotes
· 3 pulledIn 1950, petroleum ended coal's run as the dominant fuel in the United States. That was the last time the top spot in American energy changed hands. 75 years later, it is about to change again.
In 2025, petroleum accounted for 37% of U.S. energy consumption while natural gas sat at 36%, according to EIA data cited by Bloomberg.
One percentage point separates the country's current top fuel from the one rising fast enough to overtake it.
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