A cold snap brought cold weather and icy conditions to Texas this past week, increasing heating demand for electricity across the state. Power plants and electric generators in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)—the grid operator for most of the state—increased output to meet elevated demand during the storm. Unlike February 2021, when extreme […]
Category: Today in Energy
Europe relies primarily on imports to meet its natural gas needs
Imports of natural gas by both pipeline and as liquefied natural gas (LNG) provided more than 80% of the supply of natural gas to the countries of the European Union (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020, up from 65% a decade earlier. During 2020, natural gas imported into the region by pipeline made […]
Oil-fired generators helped meet electric demand in New England this January
As strong winter storms and cold temperatures blanketed the northeastern United States this January and increased the demand for electricity to heat homes and businesses, utilities used oil-fired generation to help meet electricity demand in New England. Although oil-fired generators are infrequently used in New England, they play an important role in meeting electricity demand […]
Electric vehicles and hybrids surpass 10% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales
Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicle sales in the Unites States have increased in recent months as sales of non-hybrid internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles fueled by gasoline or diesel decreased. In the fourth quarter of 2021, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles collectively accounted for 11% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States, […]
EIA analysis considers different outcomes for coal markets in India and Southeast Asia
In our International Energy Outlook 2021 (IEO2021) Issues in Focus: Uncertainty in Coal Trade in India and Greater Southeast Asia, we analyze three cases for coal markets in India and Greater Southeast Asia (GSEA), which highlight the role that varying levels of coal production and trade play in the regions’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and […]
Pennsylvania sent more electricity to neighboring states than any other state in 2020
Nearly 78 million megawatthours (MWh) of electricity generated in Pennsylvania was delivered to neighboring states in 2020, more than from any other state, according to our State Electricity Profiles. More than 230 million MWh of electricity was generated in Pennsylvania during 2020, exceeding electricity generation in all states except for Texas and Florida. […]
Utilities’ carbon-reduction goals will have little impact on U.S. CO2 emissions
Executing several plans announced by U.S. power utilities to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions would have a minor effect on U.S. energy-related CO2 reductions, according to the analysis we published earlier this week. As part of the Annual Energy Outlook 2021 (AEO2021), we created a Corporate Goal case that incorporates assumptions based on carbon-reduction goals […]
New England natural gas and electricity prices increase on supply constraints, high demand
The spot natural gas price at the Algonquin Citygate, a trading hub and the benchmark for the natural gas price in New England, averaged $20.55 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) during January 2022—the highest monthly average price since February 2014—and exceeded $28/MMBtu on several days as part of a pattern of price spikes this […]
U.S. propane prices fell from multiyear highs after a mild start to the winter
A mild start to this winter’s heating season caused U.S. propane prices to decline from the highest starting prices of a heating season since 2014. The wholesale propane price at the U.S. benchmark at Mont Belvieu, Texas, reached $1.51 per gallon (gal) on October 5, 2021, and has since declined to $1.30/gal as of January […]
Five states updated or adopted new clean energy standards in 2021
As of the end of 2021, 31 states and the District of Columbia had renewable portfolio standards (RPS) or clean energy standards (CES). These polices require electricity suppliers to supply a set share of their electricity from designated renewable resources or carbon-free eligible technologies. Four states—Delaware, Oregon, North Carolina, and Illinois—updated their RPS or CES […]