The two pie charts compare the proportions of energy production from five major sources—oil, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, and nuclear power—in the United States in 1980 and 1990.
Overall, oil remained the dominant energy source in both years, although its contribution diminished in 1990. In contrast, nuclear power consistently accounted for the smallest share of energy production throughout the period. While the proportions of oil and natural gas contracted slightly, coal and nuclear power gained momentum.
In 1980, oil contributed 42% of total energy production, overshadowing all other sources. However, this figure declined considerably to 33% in 1990, though oil still remained the primary source. Likewise, natural gas’s share marginally dipped from 26% to 25%.
Conversely, coal’s contribution surged by five percentage points, rising from 22% to 27%. Similarly, nuclear power’s share doubled, climbing from 5% to 10%, while hydroelectric power exhibited no fluctuation, maintaining a steady 5% in both years.