Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Fossil fuel consumption in the U.S. - statistics & facts
The story of fossil fuels began millions of years ago when ancient organisms died and were gradually buried by layers of rock and sediment. As these layers grew thicker, the organic matter was subjected to intense heat and pressure. The remains of plants and organisms can be chemically altered by this process and changed into substances known as coal, crude oil, and natural gas. These are the three main types of fossil fuels. They are still necessary to help meet the energy and electricity demands of many countries, including the United States. Today, fossil fuel industries drill or mine for these energy sources, burn them to produce electricity, or refine them for use as fuel for heating or transportation.
