U.S. Energy Use Fell 4.5% in 2009

Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources, according to a report released by the Lawrence Livermore NationalLaboratory (LLNL).

According to the report, the U.S. used significantly less coal and petroleum in 2009 than in 2008, and significantly more wind power. There also was a decline in natural gas use and increases in solar, hydro and geothermal power according to the most recent LLNL energy flow charts.