Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

Summer demand could push US gas generation to record levels: EIA

Utility Dive: Several factors have come together over the last decade or so to make gas-fired generation the leading source of U.S. electricity generation. Among the factors that the EIA's STEO cites are relatively low natural gas prices, environmental regulations, and supportive renewable energy policies.

That combination has led to the addition of 5.4 GW of new gas-fired capacity in the first four months of 2018 with another 15 GW scheduled to come online by year end. If all those projects come online, it would be the largest increase in natural gas capacity since 2004, according to EIA data. In contrast, more than 10 GW of coal-fired capacity retired in the 12 month period that ended in April.

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