Since 2001 natural gas (which isn’t all that natural when it is produced by fracking) has replaced coal as the main source of electricity in the U.S. Natural gas provides 32% of the electricity; coal is a close second with 30%, down from 51% in 2001. Nuclear is third, with 20%, and hydroelectric power comes in at 7%. Wind is 6%, and solar is only 2%.
The production varies considerably from state to state. For example, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Wyoming get almost all of their electricity from burning coal. Six states–Washington, Oregon, Idaho, South Dakota, Vermont, and Maine–get most of their electricity from hydro plants. While Kansas and Iowa still generate most of their electricity from coal, wind power is second and climbing rapidly in both of those states. In California half of the state’s power is produced by renewables, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.
In Pennsylvania it’s nuclear, then gas, then coal. Renewables are almost invisible–less than 5%.
The chart is in today’s Times. It’s a double page spread on pp. A12 and A13.
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