Coal’s Current Cut: How Big a Slice of Our Energy Pie?
(Roughly, What Fraction Of Our Nation’S Current Energy Needs Is Supplied By Coal?)
You flip a switch. The lights come on. You turn up the thermostat. Warm air blows. Ever wonder what fuels that? Our country needs a massive amount of energy every single day. Powering homes, businesses, factories, everything. That energy comes from different places. Oil, natural gas, nuclear power, renewables like wind and solar. And coal. Good old coal. It fueled the Industrial Revolution. It built modern America. But times change. So, what about now? Right now, today, how much of our energy plate is still piled with coal?
It’s a fair question. Coal used to be the undisputed king. For decades, it supplied well over half the electricity in the US. That picture has shifted dramatically. The energy mix is always evolving. New sources come online. Old ones fade. Coal faces competition. Natural gas is often cheaper and cleaner burning. Wind and solar power costs keep dropping. People worry more about pollution and climate change. Coal plants release a lot of carbon dioxide. They also produce other emissions. Rules got stricter. Many older coal plants shut down. Others run less often.
So, where does that leave coal today? Think about the total electricity we use nationwide. That’s the main energy pie we’re talking about. Coal still provides a significant chunk. The exact number bounces around a bit. It depends on the season. It depends on the weather. It depends on fuel prices. Looking at recent years gives us a clear average. Roughly speaking, coal supplies about one-fifth of the nation’s electricity. Yes, about 20%. That’s a big fraction. It’s not the king anymore, but it’s still a major player.
Imagine ten slices of pie. Coal provides about two of them. Natural gas usually provides more, maybe four or five slices. Nuclear power holds steady at about two slices. Renewables like wind, solar, and hydropower are growing fast. Together they often supply one or two slices. The rest comes from other sources. That 20% figure for coal is a national average. It hides big regional differences.
(Roughly, What Fraction Of Our Nation’S Current Energy Needs Is Supplied By Coal?)
Some parts of the country rely much more heavily on coal. States with large coal mines nearby often use more coal power. Places with lots of wind turbines or big hydro dams use less. The Midwest and Southeast have traditionally used more coal. The West and Northeast use less. The trend, however, is unmistakable. Coal’s share keeps shrinking. Twenty years ago, it was over 50%. Ten years ago, it was maybe 40%. Now it’s down to about 20%. This decline looks set to continue. More coal plants announce retirement dates. New gas plants and renewable projects keep getting built. Coal isn’t disappearing overnight. It provides vital baseload power in some regions. It supports mining jobs and communities. But its role is definitely smaller than it used to be. That 20% slice is getting thinner over time.
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