A report from the Energy Information Agency has laid out the future diminution of coal fired electricity. Once the stalwart of electricity generation, coal has begun to cede its crown to natural gas. In fact, overall electricity generation has flattened out.
Many anticipated this day would come, but envisioned carbon pricing playing a significant role in coal’s demise. The ascendency of natural gas has resulted because of similar factors, i.e. market forces. Natural gas is cheap, real cheap.
Renewable sources still comprise an infinitesimal portion of the electricity generating market. Wind and solar account for less than ten percent of electricity produced in the United States combined.Obtaining an accurate assessment of solar’s production though may be a bit tricky.
NPR carried a story recently that offers a different take on energy production. A 1,000 pound butter sculpture (a vestige of state fairs that lend themselves to such endeavors), may yield three days of power to a local farm in its biogas digester. Waste to energy is a growing segment of the power generation mix, though an incredibly small one at this time. Breweries like New Belgium Brewing and Magic Hat have been using this technology on a commercial scale for years, demonstrating its durability and long term probabilities.
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