There have been numerous assertions made by scientists that the transition away from fossil fuels, such as coal, toward renewable energy sources, for example, wind and solar energy, is essential in order to effectively address the current climate crisis. Now, it appears that the forecasts that wind and solar energy in the United States would eventually surpass coal in terms of the amount of energy that is produced in a year have finally turned into something real.
As a result of the fact that the effects of climate change are being experienced all over the world, including in the United States, through the occurrence of forest fires, food shortages, and extreme weather, the point at which the energy balance is shifting away from coal and toward renewable sources of energy has not arrived at a bad time. Over the course of the past few years, solar and wind power have often been responsible for the highest levels of generated electricity at the beginning of the year. However, coal has surpassed them as the demand for energy increases over the summer months.
The demand for energy in the United States increased by 4%, and worries about the reliability of power lines in regions like California and Texas have been at the forefront of people’s minds in the midst of big heat waves. Despite the fact that the rate at which coal plants are being retired has slowed down, older coal-production plants have yet to be replaced with newer ones.
However, for the first time, it seems like renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will provide more electricity in the United States than coal would for the entire year.
Recently, the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) has stated that that is in accordance with their forecasts for the next two years. The EIA has indicated that it anticipates solar and wind forms will keep on becoming the primary sources of energy generation in the country.
