Coal, Wind, Solar Power Generation Up Through September
The State Journal
27 December 2013
Electric power generation from natural gas and conventional
hydroelectricity were down in the first nine months of the year,
while power from coal, nuclear, solar and wind generation was up.
Numbers released by the Energy Information Administration earlier
this month showed that about 6.4 million kilowatt hour of power
had been generated by solar and voltaic generators through
September. That was more than double than what was generated
through September 2012, and it was more than any other full year
for which records have been kept.
All numbers are national totals. State-by-state numbers were not
released.
Coal-powered sources generated about 1.2 billion kWh through
September, an increase from 1.1 billion in 2012 but still down
from 1.35 billion in the first three quarters of 2011.
Natural gas provided slightly less than 854 million kWh through
September, down from 979 million in the first three quarters of
2012 but still more than the 773.3 million in 2011. Wind-powered
generation was up, from 102 million kWh last year to about 124
million this year.
Hydropower generation was down, from 218 million kWh last year to
about 212.5 million this year. And nuclear power increased, from
584 million kWh last year to about 589.6 million this year.