Natural gas surpasses coal as fuel to generate electricity in July
In July, natural gas surpassed coal as a fuel source for electricity generation for the second time ever, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
In July, natural gas surpassed coal as a fuel source for electricity generation for the second time ever, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
The first time was in April, a month in which electricity demand is much lower.
Gas, which has been capturing more market share in the last decade as domestic production has boomed and prices have plunged, fueled 35 percent of total power generation compared to coal's 34.9 percent share, EIA said.
Coal-fired generation fell in every region of the country from July 2014 levels, even though electricity comsumption nationwide in July of this year was 3.6 percent higher than in the year before, according to EIA.
In the mid-Atlantic region, coal was still king in July, accounting for 35.7 percent of electricity production, compared to 33.5 percent for nuclear, 26.5 percent for natural gas, and 4 percent for hydroelectric and renewables, the agency said.
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