Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (original) (raw)
In-brief analysis
Jun 10, 2026
Higher blending targets drive RIN prices close to record highs
Data source: Bloomberg L.P. and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Note: RIN=renewable identification number; real prices are adjusted to May 2026 dollars.
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.
In-brief analysis
Jun 8, 2026
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.
In-brief analysis
Jun 5, 2026
China’s nuclear power capacity nearly doubled since 2016
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics and estimates, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Note: IAEA data are used to identify capacity additions in 2025 and 2026, which we then add to our International Energy Statistics estimate for 2024 to get the total capacities for 2025 and 2026. All values are in reference unit power.
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.
In-brief analysis
Jun 3, 2026
U.S. natural gas storage capacity increased slightly in 2025
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report
Note: Measures of capacity reflect final revised values as published in the Underground Natural Gas Working Storage Capacity Report.
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.
In-brief analysis
Jun 2, 2026
California natural gas prices reach historic lows in early 2026
Data source: Natural Gas Intelligence
Note: Prices are adjusted for inflation based on April 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. The SoCal Border Average represents a daily natural gas price index tracking spot prices at key delivery points into the Southern California Gas system.
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.
In-brief analysis
May 28, 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%.
In-brief analysis
May 27, 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.
In-brief analysis
May 26, 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.
In-brief analysis
May 22, 2026
The regional differences in gasoline prices this Memorial Day
Against the backdrop of a nationwide increase in gasoline prices, regional dynamics including local supply and demand conditions, state fuel specifications, and state taxes influence the different prices drivers see at the pump.
In-brief analysis
May 20, 2026
Coal remains competitive for power generation in the central United States
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Note: The specifics of the calculation methodology are detailed in our 2017 Today in Energy article, with minor adjustments to heat rates and heat contents used. The heat rate used for the dark spread was 10,579 British thermal units per kilowatthour (Btu/kWh) while the heat rate for the spark spread was 8,365 Btu/kWh.
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.
In-brief analysis
May 19, 2026
Data center server energy use grows across the commercial building stock
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2026 (AEO2026) Counterfactual Baseline and High Electricity Demand cases
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.
In-brief analysis
May 15, 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.
In-brief analysis
May 13, 2026
Electricity generation from solar could exceed coal in ERCOT for the first time in 2026
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, Table 7d
Note: ERCOT=Electric Reliability Council of Texas
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.
In-brief analysis
May 11, 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.
In-brief analysis
May 7, 2026
One-fifth of U.S. renewable diesel and SAF production was exported in 2H25
The United States exported nearly 50,000 barrels per day (b/d) of renewable diesel and other biofuels—a category which includes sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—in the second half of 2025 (2H25), about 20% of the combined production for those fuels. About half of these exports went to Canada, with the rest mostly going to Europe.