The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that in April 2019, renewable sources including utility-scale hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass provided 23% of total domestic electricity generation. By comparison, coal provided 20%. This represents a reversal of over 100 years of history during which more U.S. electricity generation came from coal than from renewable resources.
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| Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration |
EIA attributes this outcome to a combination of seasonal factors and long-term trends. Seasonal factors include expected low demand for power in springtime, and a corresponding decline in electricity generation from fuels such as natural gas, coal, and nuclear is often at its lowest point during these months as some generators undergo maintenance.
Meanwhile, increasing amounts of renewable generation are joining the grid. EIA reports that in 2018, about 15 gigawatts of utility-scale wind and solar generating capacity came online, with additional capacity coming from smaller and behind-the-meter solar projects. 2018 brought record levels of renewable energy generation.
At the same time, U.S. coal generation is in decline. About 47 gigawatts of U.S. coal-fired capacity have retired since 2015, and EIA expects another 4.1 gigawatts of coal capacity will retire in 2019, accounting for the majority of power plant retirements expected this year.
One effect of these forces has been reductions in the carbon intensity of electricity generation in New England and other markets.
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