BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 7 

The United States plays a major role in the achievement of SDG 7 due to the size of its economy and its position as one of the world’s largest energy producers and consumers. Its electricity system is highly diversified: in 2025, natural gas accounted for around 41% of utility-scale electricity generation, followed by renewables at 24%, nuclear energy at 18%, and coal at 17% (U.S. Energy Information Administration [EIA], n.d.a). 

Despite its continued reliance on fossil fuels, the United States has significantly expanded renewable energy production. Solar and wind power have grown rapidly, while coal has declined substantially over recent decades. The country therefore combines strong technological and financial capacity for clean-energy development with a continuing dependence on fossil fuels (EIA, n.d.a; International Energy Agency [IEA], 2024). 

CURRENT CHALLEGES AND DEVELOPMENTS 

A central challenge for the United States is balancing energy security, affordability and sustainability. Fossil fuels still generated approximately 58% of utility-scale electricity in 2025, while growing electricity demand and renewable deployment increase the need for reliable grids, storage and energy infrastructure (EIA, n.d.a). 

At the same time, the expansion of renewable energy represents an important development for SDG 7. Renewable energy production and consumption reached record levels in 2025, driven particularly by solar and wind power. Nevertheless, renewables represented only around 9% of total U.S. primary energy consumption, showing that significant challenges remain beyond the electricity sector (EIA, n.d.b). 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

International Energy Agency. (2024). United States 2024: Energy Policy Review. https://www.iea.org/reports/united-states-2024

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (n.d.a). Electricity Explained: Electricity in the United States. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (n.d.). U.S. energy facts explained. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from  https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/