The electric power sector consists of facilities which generate electricity primarily for use by the public. Energy is used for the generation, distribution, and transmission of electric power.
Total electric power sector expenditures on energy increased 29.0 percent to $411.9 million from 2020 to 2021. Petroleum expenditures increased nearly five–fold, natural gas expenditures increased over four–fold, wood and waste expenditures increased 31.3 percent, and nuclear fuel expenditures increased 4.8 percent. Coal expenditures decreased 4.7 percent.
In 2021, the electric power sector spent $234.2 million for coal, $43.9 million for nuclear fuel, $118.6 million for natural gas, $13.1 million for petroleum, and $2.1 million for wood and waste. There were no direct fuel costs for hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, or solar thermal energy.
Coal expenditures were over half (56.9 percent) of the money spent in the electric power sector on energy in 2021. Expenditures on natural gas and nuclear fuel were 28.8 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively, of the total. Petroleum expenditures were 3.2 percent while wood and waste expenditures were 0.51 percent of the total.
The expenditures are in nominal dollars to provide a better comparison.
