Readers of this newsletter may recall last week’s Editor's Note, where we noted that natural gas now accounts for a one-third share of U.S. electric generation, up from approximately 10% thirty years ago.

We learned more this week about the changing landscape for power generation in a news article issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on March 23, 2016. The article, "Wind adds the most electric generation capacity in 2015, followed by natural gas and solar," graphically illustrates U.S. electric generation capacity additions for 2015 and 2014.

Wind capacity additions led in 2015, with 8,112 alternating-current megawatts (MWAC), followed by natural gas with 5,999 MWAC and solar with 5,107 MWAC. Preliminary EIA data show wind, natural gas and solar comprised almost all of the new electric generation capacity in 2015, accounting for 41%, 30% and 26% of total additions, respectively. The data also show a record amount of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity was added on U.S. rooftops in the same year. The EIA reports that this trend – where wind, natural gas and solar make up most of the new electric generation capacity – is likely to continue in 2016.

For more information on how you can add wind, natural gas or solar to your residential or commercial energy portfolio, contact your WGL Energy account manager. 

About EIA
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. Visit their website for more information.