In the U.S. Southeast (defined here as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) from 1997 to 2006, total fossil fuel consumption increased approximately 14 percent, outpacing the national average rate of 5 percent growth. Southeast consumption of fossil fuels also exceeded the less than 1 percent growth in regional non-fossil energy sources (nuclear, hydroelectric, wood/waste, solar, wind, and geothermal sources). The increase in total fossil fuel consumption was primarily caused by growth in the consumption of petroleum in the transportation sector and natural gas in the electricity generation sector.