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But Trump said he was going to bring it back!
The Worst of the major Fossil Fuels.. is going down except in the East/South Asia, and even there it's growth is slowing as China has decided to make itself the Solar Panel Emperor.
US Coal Consumption Drops to Lowest Level Since 1979
By Ryan Morris - Jan 28, 2019
US Coal Consumption Drops to Lowest Level Since 1979
The Worst of the major Fossil Fuels.. is going down except in the East/South Asia, and even there it's growth is slowing as China has decided to make itself the Solar Panel Emperor.
US Coal Consumption Drops to Lowest Level Since 1979
By Ryan Morris - Jan 28, 2019
US Coal Consumption Drops to Lowest Level Since 1979
Contrary to popular belief, the United States is using less coal than ever before – and in 2018, coal usage reached its lowest level in almost 40 years.
After reaching its peak in 2007, coal usage has been in sharp decline as safer and more efficient energy sources take on more substantial roles on the American electrical grid.
According to a recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal usage fell by 4% in 2018, which is the lowest it has been since Jimmy Carter’s presidency in 1979.
Natural gas, an energy source that releases 50% to 60% less carbon dioxide emissions than coal, surpassed coal as the leading source of U.S. electricity generation in 2016. The increased use of natural gas, along with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, have led economists and analysts alike to predict a significant decrease in coal usage by 2050.
Tougher pollutant restrictions are partially responsible for coal’s decline, but the main reason for coal’s decline may have more to do with economics than with regulation.
The report states that “coal demand in the power sector is sensitive to changes in the price of natural gas,” meaning that whenever natural gas becomes less expensive, demand for its use increases, resulting in a decreased demand for coal.
[.....]
After reaching its peak in 2007, coal usage has been in sharp decline as safer and more efficient energy sources take on more substantial roles on the American electrical grid.
According to a recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal usage fell by 4% in 2018, which is the lowest it has been since Jimmy Carter’s presidency in 1979.
Natural gas, an energy source that releases 50% to 60% less carbon dioxide emissions than coal, surpassed coal as the leading source of U.S. electricity generation in 2016. The increased use of natural gas, along with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, have led economists and analysts alike to predict a significant decrease in coal usage by 2050.
Tougher pollutant restrictions are partially responsible for coal’s decline, but the main reason for coal’s decline may have more to do with economics than with regulation.
The report states that “coal demand in the power sector is sensitive to changes in the price of natural gas,” meaning that whenever natural gas becomes less expensive, demand for its use increases, resulting in a decreased demand for coal.
[.....]
