Coal consumption by the U.S. electric power sector in 2012 is expected to fall below 900 million short tons for the first time since 1996 as the electric industry increases its use of natural gas for power generation, the Energy Information Administration projected in its March Short-Term Energy Outlook.
Power-sector demand for natural gas is expected to grow by almost 9% this year to a record high of 22.7 billion cubic feet per day. Coal use by the power sector is projected to rise slightly in 2013, but remain below the 2011 level.
