‹ Analysis & Projections

Annual Energy Outlook 2012

Release Date: June 25, 2012   |  Next Early Release Date: January 23, 2013  |   Report Number: DOE/EIA-0383(2012)

market trends icon Electric Power

exec summary Executive Summary

  • Power generation from renewables and natural gas continues to increase ...Read full section

Mkt trends Market Trends

  • After Fukushima, prospects for nuclear power dim in Japan and Europe but not elsewhere.... Read full section
  • Wind power leads rise in world renewable generation, solar power also grows rapidly.... Read full section
  • Investment tax credits could increase distributed generation in commercial sector.... Read full section
  • Coal-fired plants continue to be the largest source of U.S. electricity generation.... Read full section
  • Most new capacity additions use natural gas and renewables.... Read full section
  • Additions to power plant capacity slow after 2012 but accelerate beyond 2020.... Read full section
  • Growth in generating capacity parallels rising demand for electricity.... Read full section
  • Cost and regulatory uncertainties vary across options for new capacity.... Read full section
  • Wind dominates renewable capacity grow, but solar and biomass gain market share.... Read full section
  • Nonhydropower renewable generation surpasses hydropower by 2020.... Read full section
  • State renewable portfolio standards increase renewable electricity generation.... Read full section
  • Concerns about future GHG policies affect investments in emissions-intensive capacity.... Read full section
  • Power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide are reduced by further environmental controls.... Read full section
  • Nitrogen oxide emissions show little change from 2010 to 2035 in the Reference case.... Read full section

issues Issues in Focus

legs Legislation and Regulations


figure data

Reference Case Tables
Table 2. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - United States XLS
Table 2.1. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - New England XLS
Table 2.2. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - Middle Atlantic XLS
Table 2.3. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - East North Central XLS
Table 2.4. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - West North Central XLS
Table 2.5. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - South Atlantic XLS
Table 2.6. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - East South Central XLS
Table 2.7. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - West South Central XLS
Table 2.8. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - Mountain XLS
Table 2.9. Energy Consumption by Sector and Source - Pacific XLS
Table 9. Electricity Generating Capacity XLS
Table 10. Electricity Trade XLS
Table 16. Renewable Energy Generating Capacity and Generation XLS
Table 17. Renewable Energy Consumption by Sector and Source XLS
Table 18. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - United States XLS
Table 18.1. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - New England XLS
Table 18.2. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - Middle Atlantic XLS
Table 18.3. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - East North Central XLS
Table 18.4. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - West North Central XLS
Table 18.5. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - South Atlantic XLS
Table 18.6. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - East South Central XLS
Table 18.7. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - West South Central XLS
Table 18.8. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - Mountain XLS
Table 18.9. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source - Pacific XLS
Table 55. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - United States XLS
Table 55.1. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Texas Regional Entity XLS
Table 55.1. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Reliability First Corporation / Michigan XLS
Table 55.11. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Reliability First Corporation / West XLS
Table 55.12. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - SERC Reliability Corporation / Delta XLS
Table 55.13. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - SERC Reliability Corporation / Gateway XLS
Table 55.14. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - SERC Reliability Corporation / Southeastern XLS
Table 55.15. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - SERC Reliability Corporation / Central XLS
Table 55.16. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - SERC Reliability Corporation / Virginia-Carolina XLS
Table 55.17. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Southwest Power Pool / North XLS
Table 55.18. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Southwest Power Pool / South XLS
Table 55.19. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / Southwest XLS
Table 55.2. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / California XLS
Table 55.2. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Florida Reliability Coordinating Council XLS
Table 55.21. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / Northwest Power Pool Area XLS
Table 55.22. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / Rockies XLS
Table 55.3. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Midwest Reliability Council / East XLS
Table 55.4. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Midwest Reliability Council / West XLS
Table 55.5. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / Northeast XLS
Table 55.6. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / NYC-Westchester XLS
Table 55.7. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / Long Island XLS
Table 55.8. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / Upstate New York XLS
Table 55.9. Electric Power Projections for EMM Region - Reliability First Corporation / East XLS
Table 56. Electricity Generation by Electricity Market Module Region and Source XLS
Table 57. Electricity Generation Capacity by Electricity Market Module Region and Source XLS
Table 58. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - United States XLS
Table 58.1. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Texas Regional Entity XLS
Table 58.1. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Reliability First Corporation / Michigan XLS
Table 58.11. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Reliability First Corporation / West XLS
Table 58.12. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - SERC Reliability Corporation / Delta XLS
Table 58.13. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - SERC Reliability Corporation / Gateway XLS
Table 58.14. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - SERC Reliability Corporation / Southeastern XLS
Table 58.15. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - SERC Reliability Corporation / Central XLS
Table 58.16. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - SERC Reliability Corporation / Virginia-Carolina XLS
Table 58.17. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Southwest Power Pool / North XLS
Table 58.18. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Southwest Power Pool / South XLS
Table 58.19. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / Southwest XLS
Table 58.2. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / California XLS
Table 58.2. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Florida Reliability Coordinating Council XLS
Table 58.21. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / Northwest Power Pool Area XLS
Table 58.22. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Western Electricity Coordinating Council / Rockies XLS
Table 58.3. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Midwest Reliability Council / East XLS
Table 58.4. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Midwest Reliability Council / West XLS
Table 58.5. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / Northeast XLS
Table 58.6. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / NYC-Westchester XLS
Table 58.7. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / Long Island XLS
Table 58.8. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Northeast Power Coordinating Council / Upstate New York XLS
Table 58.9. Renewable Energy Generation by Fuel - Reliability First Corporation / East XLS

About the Annual Energy Outlook

Previous Editions of the AEO

Documentation and Assumptions