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.
Dry natural gas production grew more than 4% from 2024 to a record-high 39 trillion cubic feet in 2025, with most of the growth occurring in the Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville regions. Natural gas has been the largest source of U.S. domestic energy production since 2011, and the United States has been the largest natural gas producer in the world since 2011.
Crude oil production also set a record 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025 and grew by 3%, or 350,000 barrels per day, compared with the previous record set in 2024. Most of that growth occurred in the Permian region of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Crude oil accounted for 26% of domestic energy production, and the United States remained the largest crude oil producer in the world.
Production of NGPLs, which are hydrocarbons separated as liquids during natural gas processing, grew 7% to a record 4 trillion cubic feet in 2025 compared with the previous record set in 2024. In 2025, NGPLs accounted for 9% of domestic energy production. NGPL production has grown every year since 2005 as natural gas production and processing have increased.
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US EPA Moves to Speed Clean Air Permits for Power Plants, Industry
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Monday it would speed up the process for large polluters to obtain clean air permits, the latest move by the Trump administration to ease regulatory burdens on American power plants and industry.
The move means the EPA may take fewer than 45 days to review so-called Title V permits for big industrial facilities such as power plants. These permits set limits on emissions and outline how facilities like refineries, aluminium, smelters and other factories must operate.
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has up to 45 days to object to a proposed permit after receiving it. However, the agency said its new guidance makes clear it does not have to use the full period.
"For too long the Clean Air Act has been used as an excuse to slow walk projects beneficial to our communities, the Trump EPA is changing this through the plain reading of the law," Aaron Szabo, the EPA's assistant administrator for air, said in a statement. "We can protect human health and the environment and have an efficient permitting process.”
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Coal Official: EPA Proposals are Overstepping Its Authority
Mike Duncan is the President and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal and Electricity. He’s disappointed in these proposals on carbon emission cuts, which call for 30 percent in carbon reductions from 2005 levels, by 2030. Duncan says his organization hopes to work with states on a continual basis to come up with solutions.
“We believe the Clean Air Act was not intended for this,” he said.
Mike Duncan
“We believe that the states have the ability to set these standards that these aren’t national standards, and that states have primacy.”
Under the new regulations, states will have two years to come up with plans to meet these carbon standards. They can also apply for extensions, which could allow them an additional two years to draft a strategy. However, the EPA, according to its proposal, will have to approve of these plans moving forward.
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EPA Leader Lee Zeldin Visits West Virginia Coal-Fired Plants
The future of West Virginia’s coal industry was the topic of conversation with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lee Zeldin, who toured several power plants in the southern coalfields of West Virginia on Wednesday.
Since Zeldin took the position in January, he has been on a tour in the U.S., and his visit to West Virginia on Wednesday marked his 49th state.
Shelley Moore Capito, Lee Zeldin, and Patrick Morrisey
The goal of his visit was to speak directly to employees and industry leaders at the manufacturing plants to best understand how the EPA can work with them.
In a press conference, Zeldin spoke of the future of coal in West Virginia, although several areas of the state, such as First Energy in Morgantown and CPV Shay Energy in Doddridge County, are using natural gas power plants.
He said that the Trump administration wants to see the life extended on several coal plants in West Virginia to grow the economy and secure employment.
“I have continued to see coal plants that were about to close staying open. They are continuing to invest in capital improvements. And now, instead of closing the doors, they’re expanding their operations,” Zeldin said in the press conference.
Zeldin added that he wants to see an end to the Biden administration’s Clean Power Plan 2.0, something he and Senator Capito have been working to end together, and he said the EPA has been working to upgrade multiple facilities to keep coal.
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Global Steel Industry Doubles Down on Coal, as New Capacity Outpaces Retirements
Continued investments in new coal-based steelmaking capacity and the planned relining of blast furnaces to extend their operations threaten the industry’s clean transition, according to Global Energy Monitor’s sixth annual report on the sector.
The report finds that 319 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of coal-based blast furnace capacity globally has either been announced by the industry or is under construction, a five percent increase over the previous year.
Together with an additional 80 mtpa of capacity with planned relinings, new blast furnace investments far outpace the 141 mtpa of currently operating blast furnace capacity that has announced retirement plans. Global blast furnace capacity is projected to grow by a net 88 mtpa by 2035.
With roughly 88% of all steel sector emissions generated from coal-based production and the industry responsible for 11% of global CO2 emissions, investments in greener technologies are imperative for the world’s industrial transition toward net zero emissions.
Yet the share of green steelmaking capacity increased only marginally in the past year and progress towards green ironmaking also remains minimal.
The lower-emissions EAF steelmaking technology increased its share of global operating capacity by just 1% from 33% to 34%. In ironmaking, only 10% uses direct reduced iron (DRI) over emissions-intensive coal-based BF technology, and just 2% (4 mtpa) of operating DRI capacity uses net zero compatible green hydrogen as a primary reductant instead of fossil fuels.
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