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Energy fact of the week: The rapid decline of coal

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Recently released figures from the Department of Energy reveal this stunner: coal-fired electricity is at its lowest point since January 1973, which, as our pal Robert Bryce reported recently at National Review Online, was well before energy policy deliberately shifted to emphasize greater use of coal-fired power in the late 1970s.  (Yes, you read that right: once upon a time, the federal government wanted vastly more coal-fired power on purpose. Now Washington is trying to kill coal by any means necessary—the joys of consistent energy policy directed from Washington.) Coal used to account for nearly 50 percent of total electricity generation. Now it is down to barely one-third.

The figures below show the distribution of net electricity generation by fuel type from March 2011 and March 2012 (the last month for which data is available), showing that the share of coal fell from 42 percent a year ago to 34 percent this year, while the share produced by natural gas rose by 9 points to 30 percent. This is before most of the current and proposed EPA regulations targeting coal have taken effect, showing how fast cheap natural gas is displacing coal. Gas may well pass up coal soon as the leading electricity source. Coal prices are falling in response, but the future of American coal may well be as an export industry—if Washington will allow it. The histrionics of the Keystone pipeline are certain to be repeated with every proposed coal export terminal.

Source: Energy Information Administration.


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