Americans drove more and used more energy in 2007, and increased spending to pay for it.

Energy expenditures nearly doubled between 2000 and 2007 to $4,093 per capita, up from $2,449, the U.S. Census Bureau said last week. Total energy consumption increased 2.6% over the same period, while total energy expenditures jumped 79% to more than $1.2 trillion.

Average per-person energy expenditures in 2007 ranged from $3,179 in Arizona to $9,191 in Alaska. Overall energy consumption increased the most in Hawaii and Nevada — increasing 24.4% and 23%, respectively, between 2000 and 2007. Maine saw the greatest decrease — 12.3% — over the same period.

These changes are seen during the energy crisis of the last decade, as crude oil prices rose through the early and mid-2000s, peaking in 2008. But following the numbers available in the latest energy census report, prices tumbled by the end of 2008 as demand shrank with the onset of the recession.

Selected source natural gas expenditures in 2007 were nearly $196.5 billion and retail electricity totaled $340.9 billion. Selected source motor gasoline expenditures topped $388.5 billion, and end-use sector transportation expenditures were more than $584.5 billion.

Increases in energy consumption could have stemmed from increases in commuters and motor vehicle use. In 2007, there were 205.7 million licensed drivers and 247.3 million registered motor vehicles in the United States, marking an increase from 190.6 million licensed drivers and 221.4 million registered vehicles in 2000.

Utah saw the greatest increase in licensed drivers — growing by 42% between 2000 and 2007 — and Florida followed with a 40% increase. Colorado, however, lost 52.9% of licensed drivers during the seven-year period.

Despite an increased number of drivers, the national traffic fatality rate decreased marginally — to 1.4% in 2007 from 1.5% in 2005 and 2000. The overall number of fatalities fell 2.1% since 2000 and 5.6% since 2005. The number of traffic fatalities in alcohol-related crashes fell in 2007 to 15,534 — 37.7% of all fatal crashes — from 15,985 — 36.7% of all fatal crashes — in 2005. Of the 50 states, 30 saw decreases or no change in the number of fatal alcohol-related crashes between 2000 and 2007.