Today in Energy
Federal leasing for offshore wind grows as first U.S. offshore wind farm comes online
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on December 2.
Note: 2016 and 2017 values are estimates.
The first commercial U.S. offshore wind farm, Block Island, is scheduled to come online in late 2016. Located three miles off the southeastern coast of Rhode Island, Block Island consists of five wind turbines that will produce 30 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The electricity will be used on Block Island, where electricity is currently supplied by diesel-powered generators. The high cost of current electricity sources on Block Island helps to reduce the economic hurdles typically associated with power from offshore wind.
Tags: electricity, offshore, wind
Energy-related CO2 emissions for first six months of 2016 are lowest since 1991
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on October 12.
U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions totaled 2,530 million metric tons in the first six months of 2016. This was the lowest emissions level for the first six months of the year since 1991, as mild weather and changes in the fuels used to generate electricity contributed to the decline in energy-related emissions. EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook projects that energy-associated CO2 emissions will fall to 5,179 million metric tons in 2016, the lowest annual level since 1992.
Tags: CO2 (carbon dioxide), coal, electricity, emissions, generation, hydroelectric, natural gas, solar, wind
U.S. crude oil exports are increasing and reaching more destinations
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on August 16.
The number of countries receiving exported U.S. crude oil has risen since the removal of restrictions on exporting U.S. crude oil in December 2015. U.S. crude oil exports have occurred despite relatively small price spreads between international crude oils and domestic crude oils, as well as other factors that should reduce crude oil exports such as falling U.S. crude oil production and added cargo export costs.
Tags: Canada, crude oil, international
Hourly information on U.S. electricity supply, demand, and flows is now available
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on July 25.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration now provides hourly electricity operating data, including actual and forecast demand, net generation, and the power flowing between electric systems. EIA's U.S. Electric System Operating Data tool provides nearly real-time demand data, plus analysis and visualizations of hourly, daily, and weekly electricity supply and demand on a national and regional level for all of the 66 electric system balancing authorities that make up the U.S. electric grid.
Tags: demand, electricity
First new U.S. nuclear reactor in almost two decades set to begin operating
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on June 14.
The Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar Unit 2 was connected to the power grid on June 3, becoming the first nuclear power plant to come online since 1996, when Watts Bar Unit 1 started operations. Watts Bar Unit 2 is undergoing final testing, producing electricity at incremental levels of power, as TVA prepares to start commercial operation later this summer. The new reactor is designed to add 1,150 megawatts (MW) of electricity generating capacity to southeastern Tennessee.
Tags: electricity, generation, nuclear
Natural gas expected to surpass coal in mix of fuel used for U.S. power generation in 2016
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 16.
For decades, coal has been the dominant energy source for generating electricity in the United States. EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) is now forecasting that 2016 will be the first year that natural gas-fired generation exceeds coal generation in the United States on an annual basis. Natural gas generation first surpassed coal generation on a monthly basis in April 2015, and the generation shares for coal and natural gas were nearly identical in 2015, each providing about one-third of all electricity generation.
Tags: coal, electricity, generation, natural gas
Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about half of current U.S. crude oil production
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 15.
Even though hydraulic fracturing has been in use for more than six decades, it has only recently been used to produce a significant portion of crude oil in the United States. This technique, often used in combination with horizontal drilling, has allowed the United States to increase its oil production faster than at any time in its history. Based on the most recent available data from states, EIA estimates that oil production from hydraulically fractured wells now makes up about half of total U.S. crude oil production.
Tags: crude oil, drilling, production
Growth in domestic natural gas production leads to development of LNG export terminals
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 4.
The first export shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the Lower 48 states on February 24 is a milestone reflecting a decade of natural gas production growth that has put the United States in a new position in worldwide energy trade.
Solar, natural gas, wind make up most 2016 generation additions
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 3.
Electric generating facilities expect to add more than 26 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale generating capacity to the power grid during 2016. Most of these additions come from three resources: solar (9.5 GW), natural gas (8.0 GW), and wind (6.8 GW), which together make up 93% of total additions. If actual additions ultimately reflect these plans, 2016 will be the first year in which utility-scale solar additions exceed additions from any other single energy source.
U.S. natural gas production resilient to market changes in 2015, but has fallen in 2016
U.S. dry natural gas production continued to increase in 2015, reaching 74.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). This record-high level was a 4.5% (3.2 Bcf/d) increase over 2014, according to EIA’s Natural Gas Annual, which provides final production data for 2015. The increase in 2015 production levels marked the tenth straight annual increase, with the most recent increase occurring despite natural gas prices at the Louisiana Henry Hub declining more than 40% from an average of $4.55 per million British thermal unit (MMBtu) in 2014 to $2.62/MMBtu in 2015.
Tags: natural gas, prices, production, shale, states
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