16-12-03 Rising natural gas demand in the coming years led government
analysts to conclude that coal will play a larger role in the US energy picture.
The Energy Information Administration said in its projections of the nation's
long-term energy future that the percentage of the electricity in the United
States produced by coal will increase from 50 % in 2002 to 52 % by 2025 as it
becomes more economically competitive with gas.
Natural gas generation will increase from 18 % to 22 %. That's down from last
year when the EIA projected gas would account for 29 % of the nation's
electricity. The reduction is based on fewer gas power-plant projects in the
pipeline.
The report also predicts increased nuclear power capacity due to plant upgrades,
and oil prices remaining on a slow uphill climb of less than 1 % annually.
Source: The Washington Times