US coal consumption lowest in 40 years

Source: The Economist

After news that the UK ran its grid for 2 weeks without using coal, the longest period since the industrial revolution  began, comes the news that US coal consumption is the lowest it's been since 1978.

Despite efforts by the Trump administration to revive the U.S. coal industry, the nation's appetite for coal continues its long decline.

Last year domestic coal consumption fell to 687 million short tons, the lowest level since 1978, according to data released Monday by the Department of Energy.

That comes amidst efforts by the Department of Energy to improve the efficiency and reduce the carbon emissions of coal-fired power plants, which have been closing at a fast clip nationwide due to increased competition from natural gas and wind and solar farms.

The Energy Department announced Monday it was handing out $39 million in funding, part of a push to improve efficiency five percent by 2020.

"The Trump Administration remains committed to ensuring a coal-fueled power plant fleet that provides stable energy to the power grid," Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg said in a statement.

The power sector accounts for more than 80 percent of domestic coal production, which fell to less than 760 million short tons last year. Of the remainder, 50 million short tons was purchased by U.S. industrial facilities, and another 115 million short tons was shipped overseas.

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Sometimes the news is good, sometimes bad.  Yes, coal demand is falling in developed countries, and maybe it's about to peak in developing countries.  Yes, the roll-out of renewables continues, so that Germany for example, has a grid which is close to 50% renewable.  Unfortunately, global CO₂ emissions rose 2% in 2018, when to prevent catastrophic global heating they need to start falling by 3 or 4% a year, the year-on-year percentage decline needing to rise every year afterwards.

Eliminating coal from our electricity grid is key.  And it is happening—just not fast enough.  Now we need to make sure no new coal power stations are built in developing countries.  Rich countries should offer cheap loans to developed countries to build new capacity in wind and solar, provided they eschew new coal. When no new coal power stations are being built or planned anywhere in the world, at that point, we will be able to start hoping.