according to new figures from the U.S. Energy Information Agency.
But the report cautions that the numbers only represent one month, and that the month in question, April, is " traditionally the month when total electricity demand is lowest." Plus, "Monthly coal-fired generation is expected to continue exceeding natural gas-fired generation for the remainder of 2015." Still:
On an annual average basis, coal has lost generation share to natural gas and, to a lesser extent, renewables. The current downward trend in coal-fired generation began in 2007, when increased U.S. production of natural gas (particularly from shale) led to a sustained downward shift in natural gas spot prices and increased generation from natural gas-fired generators.
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