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Energy Sources

Primary energy sources take many forms, including nuclear energy, fossil energy -- like oil, coal and natural gas -- and renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower. These primary sources are converted to electricity, a secondary energy source, which flows through power lines and other transmission infrastructure to your home and business.

Learn more about America’s energy sources: fossil, nuclear, renewables and electricity.

Featured

New Interactive Map Shows Big Potential for America’s Wind Energy Future

New map shows projected growth of the wind industry over the next 35 years.

Top 6 Things You Didn't Know About Nuclear Power
These are the first lightbulbs lit by nuclear fission at Argonne's EBR or Experimental Breeder Reactor.| Energy Department photo.

Part of our "Top Things You Didn't Know About..." series, we outline 6 fascinating facts about nuclear power.

How a Wind Turbine Works

Part of our How Energy Works series, a comprehensive look at how wind turbines work.

U.S. Domestic Oil Production Exceeds Imports for First Time in 18 Years
<div class="field field-name-field-map-byline field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">Source: Energy Information Administration Short Term Energy Outlook. Chart by <a href="http://energy.gov/contributors/daniel-wood">Daniel Wood</a>.</div></div></div>

For the first time since 1995, U.S. domestic oil production exceeded foreign imports in October.

Top 6 Things You Didn't Know About Solar Energy
Installing a concentrating solar power system in Gila Bend, Arizona. The curved mirrors are tilted toward the sun, focusing sunlight on tubes that run the length of the mirrors. The reflected sunlight heats a fluid flowing through the tubes. The hot fluid then is used to boil water in a conventional steam-turbine generator to produce electricity. | Photo by Dennis Schroeder.

Counting down our list of top things you didn't know about solar energy -- read on for more on the most abundant energy resource known to mankind.