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ENERGY

EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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%.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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 trade—total imports less total exports—reached 11 quads of net exports in 2025, a record and 20% more net exports than the previous record set in 2024.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read
EnergyJune 3, 2026

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.

U.S. Energy Information Administration1 min read