Competition between coal and natural gas affects power markets

In 2016, natural gas provided 34% of total electricity generation, surpassing coal to become the leading generation source. Natural gas first exceeded coal as the most common electricity fuel on a monthly basis in April 2015 and on an annual basis in 2016. The increase in natural gas generation since 2005 is primarily a result of the continued cost competitiveness of natural gas relative to coal. More »

Global oil markets expected to tighten in third quarter 2017, then loosen through 2018

Forecast world production of crude oil and other liquids in 2017 and 2018 was revised slightly downward in the June edition of EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which was issued after the May 25 announcement by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of an extension to production cuts that were originally set to end this month. More »

Wind and solar in March accounted for 10% of U.S. electricity generation for first time

For the first time, monthly electricity generation from wind and solar (including utility-scale plants and small-scale systems) exceeded 10% of total electricity generation in the United States, based on March data in EIA’s Electric Power Monthly. Electricity generation from both of these energy sources has grown with increases in wind and solar generating capacity. More »

Three Mile Island is the latest nuclear power plant to announce retirement plans

At the end of May, Exelon, the owner of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in southeastern Pennsylvania, announced its intention to retire the plant in 2019 unless the company is given assistance by the state to help keep the plant financially viable. Exelon’s announcement marks the sixth announced nuclear retirement in the past seven years. More »

Reporting oil companies’ proved reserves in 2016 decline for second consecutive year

Annual reports of 68 publicly traded oil companies indicated that their aggregate proved liquids reserves declined in 2016 for the second consecutive year. The decline in proved reserves was heavily concentrated in a few companies that reduced their estimated reserves from Canadian oil sands projects. More »

U.N. cap on North Korean coal exports could decrease North Korean export earnings

n 2016, the almost $1.2 billion value of North Korea’s coal exports accounted for about 40% of their total export revenue. A cap imposed by the United Nations (U.N.) on imports of coal from North Korea would limit North Korea’s coal export earnings to about US $400 million in 2017, about one-third of the previous five-year average. More »