Wind turbines generate electricity at the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm near Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
For the first time in history, wind and solar power generated more electricity in the United States than coal, according to the latest federal data.
In the first five months of 2023, wind and solar combined generated 252 terawatt-hours, while coal generated 249 terawatt-hours, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data reviewed by E&E News. It’s the first time renewables have surpassed coal, excluding hydroelectric power.
This historic moment comes as coal consumption in the U.S. continues to decline, as coal-fired power plants are closed and replaced by renewable energy and natural gas. In 2007, coal accounted for 49.9 percent of all electricity generation in the country.
“Our official statistics from Electric Power Monthly show that combined wind and solar generation exceeded coal generation in January, February and March,” EIA spokesman Chris Higginbotham told E&E News. “Real-time data, which is subject to revision, indicate that this trend continued in April and May.”
The announcement came after a brief surge in coal demand last year, driven by the conflict in Ukraine and the economic recovery from the pandemic, both of which sent natural gas prices soaring. However, a mild winter, increased gas production and slowing global economic growth have since pushed gas prices down, and coal demand down, according to the World Bank.
Since the beginning of 2022, the U.S. has shut down about 14 gigawatts of coal capacity, or about 7% of its total coal fleet. Since April 2022, U.S. carbon emissions have fallen by 5.6%, according to Carbon Monitor.
The change reflects a shift in U.S. energy policy toward more carbon-neutral energy sources, which has led to the closure of many coal-fired power plants across the country.
“We expect the United States to generate less electricity from coal this year than any year this century,” Joe DeCarolis, EIA administrator, said in a May forecast. “As electricity providers begin to rely more on renewables, we predict coal generation will decline over the next year and a half.”
However, fossil fuels still play a leading role in electricity generation in the United States. Natural gas continues to be the country’s dominant energy source, accounting for about 39% of total electricity in 2022. Its share is expected to drop to 38% this year and 37% in 2024.
TOPICS solar energy
Ben TurnerNavigate Social LinksSenior Staff Writer
Ben Turner is a UK-based Live Science staff writer who covers physics and astronomy, as well as a range of other topics including technology and climate change. He
Sourse: www.livescience.com
