But then this. First, the small print, and then the graph. Here's the small print, from Mr Obama's EIA:
Coal stockpiles at electric power plants experienced a steep drawdown this winter, falling 24% between November 2013 (156 million tons) and February 2014 (119 million tons), ending at the lowest level since March 2006.
A main reason for this reduction was increased electricity demand because of the colder-than-normal weather.
Total U.S. net electricity generation was 5.3% higher this winter (November-February) than last winter, with 59% of the increase supplied by coal generation, which was up 8% year-over-year, or by 40,000 gigawatthours.Renewable energy, and even natural gas, was unable to keep up with the demand created by this year's colder-than-normal winter. An increase in electricity was necessary and coal provided almost 60% of that increase in energy that was needed.
I never would have guessed that based on mainstream media reports.
Now, the graph:
