Coal is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the world and as revealed by its use in America at the end of 2011, it appears to be declining. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) coal’s share of monthly power generation in the US decreased to below 40 percent in both November and December 2011. We have not seen monthly oil totals below 40 percent in more than three decades (March 1978).
The reason given for this decline is falling natural gas prices. Another factor involves the closure of 106 coal plants between January 2010 and February 2012. These coal plants represents a total emissions profile of 162 million tons of carbon a year.
EIA data also shows that renewable energy generation is increasing. This growth has been supported by Federal and State programs, including federal tax credits, state renewable portfolio standards, and a federal renewable fuels standard. The EIA forecasts that renewable energy will account for 33 percent of the overall growth in electricity generation from 2010 to 2035.
Federal production tax credits and grants for electricity from certain renewable sources as well as State-level renewable portfolio standards have encouraged both capacity additions and increased generation from wind and other renewable sources.
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Renewable Energy in 2012: The Global Climate and Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope
Government Incentives are Growing Renewables
Renewable Energy Surpasses Nuclear in the US
Renewable Energy Can Replace Fossil Fuels
US States Renewable Energy Ranking
Republican Governors See Value in Renewables
UK Renewable Energy 2011 Overview
UK Government Investments in Efficiency and Renewables
The EU Debt Crisis did Not Curb the Growth of Renewables in 2011
Africa a Renewable Energy Superpower
Germany Abandons Nuclear for Coal
Greenpeace Campaign is Asking Facebook to Unfriend Coal
Republican Opposition to Obama’s Clean Energy
