The Department of Energy’s Annual Energy Outlook 2010 presents updated projections for U.S. energy consumption and production through 2035.
Existing policies that stress energy efficiency and alternative fuels, together with higher energy prices, will curb energy consumption growth and shift the energy mix toward renewable fuels. Fossil fuels, however, would still provide about 78% of all energy used in 2035.
Key findings include:
* Total primary energy consumption grows moderately by 14% between 2008 and 2035.
* Fossil fuel share of total U.S. energy consumption falls from 84% to 78%.
* Total U.S. consumption of liquid fuels, including both fossil liquids and biofuels, grows from 19 million barrels per day in 2008 to 22 million barrels per day in 2035, with biofuels accounting for all of the growth. As a result, reliance on imported oil declines significantly over the next 25 years.
* Shale gas drives growth in natural gas production and reduces reliance on imported gas.
* Energy-related CO2 emissions continue to grow, assuming no new policies. CO2 emissions from energy grow at 0.3% per year, assuming no new policies to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions.
Click here for more. The full report, including projections with differing assumptions on the price of oil, the rate of economic growth, and the characteristics of new technologies, will be released in early 2010, along with regional projections.
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