The share of U.S. total utility-scale electricity generation from natural gas-fired power plants will rise from 35% in 2018, to 38% in 2019, and then decline slightly in 2020, according to the latest Steo, Short-Term Energy Outlook, produced by the Energy Information Administration.
EIA/Steo forecasts the share of U.S. generation from coal will average 24% in 2019, and 23% in 2020, down from 27% in 2018.
The forecast nuclear share of U.S. generation falls from 20% in 2019, to 19% in 2020, reflecting the retirement of reactors at five nuclear plants in 2019 and 2020. Hydropower averages a 7% share of total U.S. generation in the forecast for 2019 and 2020, similar to 2018.
Wind, solar, and other non-hydropower renewables together provided 10% of U.S. total utility-scale generation in 2018. EIA expects they will provide 11% in 2019, and 13% in 2020.
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