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Largest wind farm in the United States slated to begin commercial operations

The SunZia Wind Project, the largest wind farm in the United States, is slated to begin commercial operations this month. The wind farm, located in New Mexico, has a total net summer generating capacity of 3,650 megawatts (MW) and is composed of 916 wind turbines. SunZia's capacity is more than three times larger than the next two largest wind farms, Alta Wind in Southern California (1,098 MW) and Great Prairie in northern Texas (1,027 MW). The SunZia Wind Project works with a high voltage transmission line to deliver the wind power generated to Arizona and California.

Higher blending targets drive RIN prices close to record highs

Compliance credits for biomass-based diesel and ethanol have doubled in value since the start of this year. The credits, known as renewable identification numbers (RINs), have increased in price, mostly because of higher U.S. biofuel blending targets. The combination of high RIN prices and rising motor gasoline and diesel fuel prices has created an especially favorable market for producing and blending biofuels.

U.S. jet fuel production rises after prices doubled in March

Weekly estimates suggest U.S. jet fuel production has increased to record highs in response to elevated jet fuel prices after the Strait of Hormuz closed on February 28. Higher crude oil prices and supply concerns, particularly in Europe and Asia, which previously imported much of their jet fuel supply from the Persian Gulf, have driven up jet fuel prices. Much of the increased U.S. jet fuel production is being exported, as domestic inventories remain above average.

China's nuclear power capacity nearly doubled since 2016

From 2016 to 2024, China's nuclear generation capacity increased 76% (24 GW), based on our International Energy Statistics (IES) data. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), China added an additional 1.1 GW of nuclear power capacity in 2025 and 2.2 GW in 2026 (through May). China is continuing to build out its nuclear generating capacity and has 36 reactors under construction, accounting for more than 49% of total world nuclear construction, according to PRIS.

U.S. natural gas storage capacity increased slightly in 2025

Underground working natural gas storage capacity in the Lower 48 states increased slightly in 2025, according to our latest data, with growth concentrated in the South Central and Mountain regions. Underground natural gas storage provides a source of energy when demand increases, balancing U.S. energy needs. We calculate natural gas storage capacity in two ways: demonstrated peak capacity and working gas design capacity. Both increased in 2025.

California natural gas prices reach historic lows in early 2026

Monthly average natural gas spot prices in California reached record lows in the first five months of 2026, dropping to values last recorded in the nationwide low-price market of 2024. Record lows were recorded in Northern California's PG&E Citygate and Southern California's SoCal Border Average; SoCal Citygate prices fell to near-record lows but remained higher than some 2024 prices. Several factors contribute to California's low prices, including above-average inventories and decreasing in-state demand for natural gas-fired electricity.

Natural gas for power generation flat this summer, record high expected in 2027

We forecast natural gas consumption by the U.S. electric power sector this summer will remain near recent highs and set a record next summer in our May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Despite a 2% increase in overall U.S. electricity demand this summer, we expect natural gas-fired electricity generation to be similar to last summer, primarily because of forecast increased generation from renewables. In the May STEO, we forecast natural gas consumed by the U.S. electric power sector will average 43.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during the summer (June–September), the same as in the summer of 2025, and 4% above the five-year summer average (2021–2025). We forecast natural gas consumption for power generation will increase 6% (2.4 Bcf/d) during the summer of 2027 to 46.1 Bcf/d, surpassing the previous record set in 2024 by 3%.

The United States is a major energy exporter and importer, especially for petroleum

Total energy exports from the United States reached a record 31 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, 2% more than the previous record set in 2024. U.S. energy imports were 21 quads, down 5% from 2024. Taken together, net tradeβ€”total imports less total exportsβ€”reached 11 quads of net exports in 2025, a record and 20% more net exports than the previous record set in 2024.

Most planned natural gas pipeline capacity additions in 2026 and 2027 originate in Texas

Developers plan to bring approximately 44.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of new pipeline capacity online in the United States in 2026 and 2027, according to our latest Natural Gas Pipeline Projects Tracker. Approximately 70% (31.6 Bcf/d) of this new capacity is already under construction. More than 66% (29.7 Bcf/d) of the capacity additions originate in Texas. Louisiana is second with 19% (8.4 Bcf/d) of total capacity additions.

Coal remains competitive for power generation in the central United States

In the first four months of 2026, electricity, natural gas, and coal prices suggested continued favorable economics for coal generation in MISO. The dark spread of coal, the difference between the fuel costs for coal-fired generation and the wholesale electricity price, in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region outpaced a similar measure of revenue relative to fuel costs for natural gas-fired generators known as the spark spread.

Data center server energy use grows across the commercial building stock

In the Annual Energy Outlook 2026 (AEO2026), our long-term outlook, we project electricity consumed by data center servers will increase across the commercial building stock, increasing more in standalone data centers than in all other data center rooms combined. By 2050, server consumption alone reaches between 446 billion kilowatthours (BkWh) and 818 billion BkWh. The highest end of the range reflects faster growth in server power draw and installed stock in our High Electricity Demand case. Standalone data centers are represented in the other buildings category, where we project servers will consume 581 BkWh of electricity in 2050 in our High Electricity Demand case. Across all cases, servers alone accounted for an estimated 7% of commercial sector electricity consumption in 2025. Data center server electricity use grows to 22%–33% of commercial building electricity use by 2050 across our cases.

U.S. industrial natural gas consumption expected to hit records in 2026 and 2027

We forecast U.S. industrial natural gas consumption will climb to record highs through 2027 in our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook. Industrial consumption averaged a record 23.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025, 1% more than the record 23.4 Bcf/d reached in 2023. In our forecast, consumption gradually increases further in 2026 and in 2027 as we expect the natural gas-weighted manufacturing index to also rise slightly over this period.

Electricity generation from solar could exceed coal in ERCOT for the first time in 2026

In our most recent Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that annual electric power generation from utility-scale solar will surpass that from coal for the first time in 2026 within the electricity grid that covers most of Texas. Solar generation is expected to reach 78 billion kilowatthours (BkWh) in 2026 in the electricity grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) compared with 60 BkWh for coal.

The United States set record energy production in 2025, again

Total energy production in the United States increased to a new record of 107 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous record set in 2024, according to new data in our Monthly Energy Review. Total production was driven by record-high production in natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs), and renewables. This was the fourth consecutive year in which the United States set a record for total energy production.

Commercial electricity sales have soared in Virginia, driven by data centers

Commercial electricity sales in Virginia increased by nearly 30.0 million megawatthours (MWh) between 2019 and 2025, much faster growth than in any other state except Texas, a much larger state, according to our Annual Electric Power Industry Report. The growth in sales of electricity in Virginia is largely driven by a concentration of data centers, as well as electric vehicle adoption and building electrification.

Coal distributions for non-electric power use decline in the South

The volume of coal delivered in the United States for uses other than power generationβ€”primarily, for manufacturingβ€”decreased by about half in the last 15 years. Coal delivered for these purposes in the South decreased the most in percentage terms between 2010 and 2025, falling 75%, or 14.7 million short tons (MMst), according to our Annual Coal Distribution Report and Quarterly Coal Distribution Report. In 2010, the South received more than double the amount of coal received in the Northeast; by 2025 the two regions received about the same amount. Manufacturers' increasing use of natural gas instead of coal and the closure of manufacturing plants using coal were major factors in this decline.

DOE has released 17.5 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve since March

Between the week ending March 20 and the week ending April 24, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a total of 17.5 million barrels of crude oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), according to data in our Weekly Petroleum Status Report. DOE released 7.1 million barrels in the week ending April 24, the most released since the week ending October 7, 2022. SPR stocks are currently 397.9 million barrels.

Alaska proved reserves increased in 2024, while nationwide proved reserves fell

Oil and gas producers operating in Alaska reported increases in proved reserves in 2024 at a time when low prices triggered a decrease in nationwide proved reserves, according to our recently released U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves, Year-End 2024 report. Alaska's crude oil and lease condensate proved reserves increased 5%, and natural gas proved reserves increased nearly 7% in 2024.
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