According to a release by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), prices for most sources of energy will rise through the summer of 2021.

• Gasoline will average $2.78 per gallon during the summer up from $2.07 in 2020. The increase is attributed to higher crude oil prices and great demand as the effects of COVID-19 shutdowns subside.

• The EIA estimates that Brent crude oil prices will average $64 per barrel during the summer up from $36 per barrel in 2020. It is forecast that worldwide consumption of petroleum and liquid fuels will increase by six percent in 2021 compared to 2020 and will approximate levels prevailing in 2019 prior to the emergence of COVID.

• Natural gas prices will increase following disruptions in mid-February with spot prices for gas averaging $5.35 per million BTU during summer months. In March, average price dropped to $2.62 per million BTU, but the EIA expects less consumption of natural gas for power generation because of higher prices.

• The EIA project a 13 percent rise in the use of coal for power generation in 2021 as a result of an increase in the price of natural gas
• Electricity consumption will increase by 2.1 percent in 2021

Natural gas will be responsible for 36 percent of electricity generation and coal 22 percent with renewables and nuclear each generating 20 percent.

The EIA projected that carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 11 percent in the U.S. in 2020 because of COVID-19 effects on the economy and society.  In 2021, carbon dioxide emissions will increase by five percent with coal making a disproportionate contribution to emissions.