US natural gas capacity to rise by 8% by 2018

Natural gas-fired generating capacity in the US is expected to rise in the next two years. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the power industry is planning to increase […]

Natural gas-fired generating capacity in the US is expected to rise in the next two years.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the power industry is planning to increase capacity by 11.2GW this year and 25.4GW in 2018.

That would boost natural gas capacity by 8% from 2016 levels if the plants come online as planned.

As a result, the new additions could help natural gas maintain its status as the primary energy source for power generation, even if prices rise moderately, the EIA states.

It adds the upcoming expansion of natural gas generating capacity follows five years of net reductions of total coal-fired capacity.

Available coal capacity fell by an estimated 47.2GW between the end of 2011 and 2016 – equivalent to a 15% fall.

The EIA states: “The electricity industry has been retiring some coal-fired generators and converting others to run on natural gas in response to the implementation of environmental regulations and to the sustained low cost of natural gas.”

Latest statistics from the UK Government reveal fossil fuel dependency in the country fell to record low levels.

 

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