The numbers are staggering: the degree to which power companies are turning to natural gas, leaving coal "in the dust." Pun intended.
As of the end of last week, the capacity factor at Central Appalachian coal fired plants monitored by Gensape was down to 51% versus 73% at this time last year. The same factor for Illinois Basin coal went from 67% last year to 47% today. Powder River Basin coal shows the same trend, down to 62% from 71%. Genscape reports that there is not that much unit cycling going on as it is just complete shutdown of coal plants. Each week in 2012 the number of units off line has exceeded the count from 2011 by a wide margin.There are a number of interesting data points at the link.
What is unsaid is deafening: no mention of solar or wind power.
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