Wind and solar produced a combined 252 terawatts of power over coal, which produced 240 TWh. (Image credit: Pixabay)
For the first time in US history, wind and solar have managed to beat coal in power production, according to new federal data from the Energy Information Agency (EIA). The data, assembled and reported on by E&E News, shows that wind and solar combined produced 252 terawatts of energy, while coal generated 240 TWh. This marks the first time renewable energy sources have outperformed coal without the inclusion of hydroelectric power.
While this may sound like a remarkable achievement, coal has been on the decline in the US for decades, as most coal plants have been converted for natural gas or decommissioned altogether. During its peak in 2007, coal accounted for 49.9% of US energy production. Power markets have witnessed coals decline in favor of renewable energy sources to curb greenhouse emissions from fossil fuels, which were also driven by low natural gas prices and a mild winter.
Renewable energies have bested coal in 2020 and 2022; however hydroelectric power was included in the data for those respective years. The US has also shut down around 14 gigawatts of coal-generated power, 7% of its coal fleet, since last year (2022), which reduced fossil fuel emissions by 5.6%. This shift to renewable power sources reflects current US energy policies to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. That said, fossil fuels are still the leading power producers in the country, with natural gas as the leading source, which accounts for about 39% of US electricity. While it may seem like a drop in the bucket, the US is still in its infancy regarding renewable energy. And while it only acts as a stop-gap solution for grid loss and overconsumption during peak hours, it’s still a step in the right direction.
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