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Dataset Files
Each file has a stable URL (r-link) that you can use directly in scripts, apps, or AI agents. These URLs are permanent and safe to hardcode.
/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/AGENTS.md
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/README.md
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/data/primary-energy-by-source.csv
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/data/primary-energy-consumption.csv
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/datapackage.json
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/process.py
Key Files
Start with these files — they give you everything you need to understand and access the dataset.
datapackage.json— metadata & schema
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/datapackage.json
README.md— documentation
https://datahub.io/energy-and-commodities/us-primary-energy-consumption-historical/_r/-/README.md
Typical Usage
- 1. Fetch datapackage.json to inspect schema and resources
- 2. Download data resources listed in datapackage.json
- 3. Read README.md for full context
Data Views
Data Previews
US Primary Energy Consumption 1635–2000
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Schema
| name | type | description |
|---|---|---|
| year | integer | Year of observation |
| total_quad_btu | number | Total primary energy consumption in quadrillion British thermal units (quad Btu). Includes all sources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, and other renewables. |
| notes | string | Data notes. 'selected year' indicates the pre-1949 series where only specific benchmark years are available. |
US Primary Energy Consumption by Source 1850–1945
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Schema
| name | type | description |
|---|---|---|
| year | integer | Year of observation (selected years, at 5-year intervals) |
| coal_quad_btu | number | Coal consumption in quadrillion Btu |
| natural_gas_quad_btu | number | Natural gas consumption in quadrillion Btu |
| petroleum_quad_btu | number | Petroleum consumption in quadrillion Btu |
| hydro_quad_btu | number | Hydroelectric power in quadrillion Btu |
| biomass_quad_btu | number | Wood and biomass consumption in quadrillion Btu (pre-1949 series covers fuelwood only) |
| total_quad_btu | number | Total primary energy consumption in quadrillion Btu |
Data Files
| File | Description | Size | Last modified | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
primary-energy-consumption | Total US primary energy consumption by year, 1635–2000. Pre-1949 data covers selected years at irregular intervals (decennial 1635–1845, quinquennial 1850–1945). Annual data from 1949. Gap exists for 1946–1948 (bridging period between historical and modern EIA series). Values in quadrillion Btu (1 quad = 10^15 Btu = 1.055 exajoules). | 1.79 kB | about 1 month ago | primary-energy-consumption |
primary-energy-by-source | Breakdown of US primary energy consumption by fuel source for selected years 1850–1945. Shows the transition from wood and water power to coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Values in quadrillion Btu. | 900 B | about 1 month ago | primary-energy-by-source |
| Files | Size | Format | Created | Updated | License | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2.69 kB | csv | about 1 month ago | Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License (PDDL) | US Energy Information Administration: Estimated Primary Energy Consumption in the United States, Selected Years, 1635–1945 (Quadrillion Btu) |
US Primary Energy Consumption 1635–2000
Estimated primary energy consumption in the United States from 1635 to 2000. Covers 365 years of US energy history — from wood and water power in the colonial era, through the coal-dominated industrial revolution, to the rise of petroleum and natural gas in the 20th century.
Data
| File | Description | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
data/primary-energy-consumption.csv | Total primary energy consumption | 1635–2000 |
data/primary-energy-by-source.csv | Breakdown by fuel type | 1850–1945 (selected years) |
All values in quadrillion Btu (quad Btu). 1 quad Btu = 10¹⁵ Btu ≈ 1.055 exajoules.
Coverage notes
- 1635–1845: Decennial selected years. Colonial and early republic era — almost entirely wood fuel and water power.
- 1850–1945: Quinquennial selected years. Covers the industrial revolution and rise of fossil fuels. Source breakdown available.
- 1946–1948: Gap in published EIA series (bridge between historical and modern datasets).
- 1949–2000: Annual data from EIA Monthly/Annual Energy Review. Full energy system including nuclear from ~1957.
Key milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1850 | Coal begins appearing in energy mix (0.219 quad) |
| 1880s | Natural gas first recorded |
| ~1900 | Coal surpasses wood as primary energy source |
| ~1950 | Petroleum surpasses coal |
| 1957 | Nuclear energy enters the grid |
| 1970 | Peak consumption growth era: 67.8 quad Btu |
| 1973–74 | Oil crisis: consumption falls from 75.7 to 74.0 quad Btu |
| 2000 | US consumes 98.8 quad Btu — the highest to that point |
Sources
-
1635–1945: EIA Annual Energy Review, Table E1 — Estimated Primary Energy Consumption in the United States, Selected Years, 1635–1945
- Original source: USDA Circular No. 641 and Energy in the American Economy, 1850–1975 (Schurr & Netschert)
- EIA PDF: https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/sec12_24.pdf
-
1949–2000: EIA Annual Energy Review, Table 1.1 — Primary Energy Overview
License
US government data (EIA) — public domain. This packaged dataset is released under the Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License (PDDL).