The amount of electric power produced from coal has been steadily declining in the United States over the past 10 years, falling to a 46-year low of 773,393 gigawatthours (GWh) in 2020. Although U.S. coal-fired generation increased by 16% to 898,679 GWh in 2021, we forecast a continued move away from coal. To be more […]
Category: Today in Energy
U.S. natural gas price saw record volatility in the first quarter of 2022
U.S. natural gas price volatility (a measure of daily price changes) reached its highest level in 20 years, hitting record highs in the first quarter (January—March) of 2022. The 30-day historical volatility of U.S. natural gas prices, which is based on the U.S. benchmark Henry Hub front-month futures price, averaged 179% in February compared with […]
Daily U.S. electricity generation from natural gas hit a record in mid-July
In the U.S. Lower 48 states, electric power generated by natural gas-fired power plants reached 6.37 million megawatthours on July 21, 2022, according to our Hourly Electric Grid Monitor. Despite relatively high natural gas prices, demand for natural gas for electricity generation has been strong throughout July as a result of above-normal temperatures, reduced coal-fired […]
Most U.S. fuel ethanol production capacity at the start of 2022 was in the Midwest
As of January 1, 2022, biofuel plant production capacity in the United States reached 21 billion gallons per year (gal/y) from 275 facilities. More than four-fifths of U.S. biofuel production capacity was for fuel ethanol. […]
EIA workshops explore international energy analysis improvements
In June, EIA hosted two workshops, where we invited energy experts to discuss ways we can improve our energy analysis in the International Energy Outlook (IEO). […]
U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico are increasing at the West Texas border
Natural gas pipeline exports from West Texas to Mexico averaged 1.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during May 2022—the most pipeline exports from West Texas on record, according to our most recent monthly data. Compared with 2021, U.S. pipeline exports from West Texas increased by 12% from January through May 2022 to average 1.4 […]
EIA expects production of global liquid fuels to outpace consumption in 2022
Changes to both production and consumption of global liquid fuels have changed our forecast for balances between the two for the rest of 2022 and 2023. For most of 2021, more liquid fuels were consumed globally than produced. Starting in the second quarter of 2022, global liquid fuels production rose above consumption. According to our […]
EIA expects renewables to account for 22% of U.S. electricity generation in 2022
U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources, such as hydropower, wind, and solar, accounted for 20% of electricity generation both in 2020 and in 2021. We expect that share to increase to 22% in 2022 and to 24% in 2023 as more generating capacity from wind and solar come online and other generation sources, such as […]
In 2020, most U.S. households prepared at least one hot meal a day at home
In 2020, 79% of U.S. households prepared at least one hot meal at home each day, according to our 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). Households in the Pacific Census Division and the New England Census Division were generally more likely to cook hot meals at home daily. For example, in Washington (in the Pacific […]
Conflict in Libya since 2011 civil war has resulted in inconsistent crude oil production
Libya’s crude oil production averaged nearly 1.2 million barrels per day (b/d) during 2021. In late December 2021, armed militants shut in an estimated 0.4 million b/d of crude oil production. In April 2022, protesters across the country began to blockade several major ports and oil fields in Libya, causing production to fall to around […]
