JAN 26

This is a great trend to see taking shape as wind and solar become the predominant methods of new power generation. Continued installations will then allow for further reductions in the need for coal, which will have a very beneficial effect on lowering CO2 emissions.

Wind and solar are great as they provide long term jobs and almost no pollution (ex the creation of the hardware). Coal jobs rely on dangerous work to both the miners and to the public.

Thanks Hank for the encouraging news.

I agree with all the comments here, a great trend that will continue and grow in the upcoming months, years. This is really encouraging, especially in this crazy economy. Green power and green jobs will play a significant role in helping the United States on so many different levels.

This is good news. Estimating how much energy supply growth was avoided through efficiency improvements would also be worth knowing. The ACEEE report http://aceee.org/pubs/e083.pdf...N=20896320 estimated that 3/4 of the demand since 1970 was satisfied through efficiency, and only 1/4 through supply. Although we definitely need to ramp up renewables, a good way to get ahead of the curve is using less electricity.

Great news indeed but the overhyped wind and solar will never replace coal and other fossil fuels without adequate storage. They are intermittent energy.

There is no shortage of baseload green energy.

Geothermal is the most potent green energy of all. It is both superior to and cheaper than fossil fuels by some estimates.

Biomass is replacing coal today over vociferous opposition by some that pretend they are environmentalists.

Best, Terry

In the report mentioned as a source of your article, it reads: "In 2007, electricity generation from coal-fired capacity increased 1.3 percent, reversing the decline from 2005 to 2006. Coal-fired generation increased from 1,991 million MWh in 2006 to 2,016 million MWh in 2007. This is a new record, exceeding the previous all-time high of 2,013 million MWh set in 2005. The record level of coal-fired generation reflects a one percentage point increase in the average capacity factor of coal-fired generation to 73.6 percent."

Regarding the energy mix, it reads "In spite of setting a record level for generation in 2007, coal’s share of total net generation continued its downward trend in 2007. It accounted for 48.5 percent of total net generation in 2007 as compared to 49.0 percent in 2006 and 52.8 percent in 1997. Nevertheless, it remains the primary source of baseload generation. The decline in coal’s share of total net generation in 2007 was attributable to continued increase in the share of total net generation produced by natural gas-fired and nuclear capacity, as well as renewable sources, other than conventional hydroelectric capacity."

It seems that coal is only being replaced by other non-renewables...am I reading this right? I would love to see renewables taking a bigger chunk out of the coal portion.

Also "Estimated carbon dioxide emissions by U.S. electric generators and combined heat and power facilities increased by 2.3 percent from 2006 to 2007 (from 2,460 million metric tons to 2,517 million metric tons). This reverses the decline in carbon dioxide emissions reported for 2006."

I would like to be optimistic about 2007, but the report doesn't provide this for me.

I would like to be optimistic about 2007, but the report doesn't provide this for me.