Except for a modest volume of hydroelectric power, the energy consumed in North Carolina comes from outside sources. In 1998 residential users consumed about 23% of North Carolina's energy in that year, commercial users 17%, industrial users 34%, and transportation 26%.
Installed electrical capacity (utility and nonutility) totaled 22.9 million kW in 1999, and production reached 117.6 billion kWh. The two Brunswick stations in Southport and the Harris plant in Wake County, operated by Carolina Power and Light, and the two Duke Power McGuire stations at Cowens Ford Dam were the only nuclear power units in operation in 2001. In 2000 North Carolina's total per capita energy consumption was 311 million Btu (78.4 million kcal), ranking it 37th among the 50 states.
No petroleum or natural gas has been found in North Carolina, but major companies have expressed interest in offshore drilling. There is no coal mining, and proved coal reserves are minor, at only 10.7 million tons.