The line graph was adapted from a 2008 account and illustrates how energy was consumed in the USA since 1980 alongside predictions up till 2030.
Overall, the average rate of consumption of the different kinds of energy show a steady increasing trend and are also predicted to remain the same in future with petrol and oil being the highest source of energy, the least significant being solar and hydropower, and coal and natural gas being used moderately.
At the start of the period in 1980, petrol and oil were the most consumed at 35 quadrillion units. They experienced some fluctuations between 1985 to 2005, falling to almost 30 quadrillion units and rising back to approximately 40 quadrillion units. In the following years, they experienced a steady growth but dipped a bit in 2020. Although, they are forecast to keep rising above 45 quadrillion units in 2030.
Similarly, coal and natural gas started the time period at approximately 16 quadrillion units and 20 quadrillion units respectively. They also witnessed a lot of instability over the years before becoming steady in 2015 at a little over 20 quadrillion units. After this, natural gas is projected to maintain a plateau up to 2030 while coal is expected to write slightly to approximately 30 quadrillion units in 2030.
On the other hand, nuclear, solar and hydropower started the time period with equal amount of energy consumption at about four quadrillion units. The three of them recorded a slow but steady growth over the years and predictions show that they will be the least consumed forms of energy in 2030.