Gas dominates new generating capacity in the US

Natural gas dominated new electricity generating capacity commissioned in the US last year, according to data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) – but renewables are poised to make a serious impact as new capacity comes online in the next three years. 

FERC's Energy Infrastructure Update notes that new natural gas generation placed in service in 2018 totalled 20,000 MW – or 65% of new generating capacity. Sources other than fossil fuels – including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, wind and solar – accounted for 10,000 MW, or 34%.

The remaining 1.4% was provided by nuclear (350 MW), waste heat (51 MW), oil (25 MW), coal (10 MW), and ‘other’ sources of energy (5 MW). Separate data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) in late January show that decreasing demand for coal in the US has led to much lower production of the fossil fuel. More than half of the US coal mines operating in 2008 have now closed, the EIA says. The closures come at a time of renewed support for coal on behalf of the Trump Administration. 

The President himself has most recently been involved in a campaign to keep a 49 year-old coal plant in Tennessee open, despite the fact that it is no longer needed to provided baseload power. On 11 February, Trump tweeted that the plant’s owner, the Tennessee Valley Authority, should ‘give serious consideration to all factors before voting to close viable power plants’.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey, both Democrats, have recently introduced an economic stimulus package aimed at addressing both climate change and social inequality in the US. The ‘Green New Deal’ does not contain policy details, but it does vow to meet power demand using ‘clean, renewable and zero emissions energy sources’.

The plan, which would target carbon neutrality in the US by 2030, is likely to go to the Senate floor for a vote, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. However, McConnell’s goal is not to enable the bill to pass, but to force Democrats to take a stand on its bold targets.  

Decreasing demand for coal in the US has led to much lower production of the fossil fuel – more than half of the US coal mines operating in 2008 have now closed.