(Tue, 12 Mar 2019) The 2019 <em>Annual Energy Outlook</em> (AEO2019) Reference case shows continued growth of natural gas production in the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio region from the Marcellus and Utica formations, resulting in increases of natural gas being transported to the Eastern Midwest and, ultimately, into the South Central region, which includes the Gulf Coast and Texas.
(Tue, 12 Mar 2019) Working natural gas inventories in the Southern California Natural Company (SoCalGas) storage system have decreased during the winter (November through March) to about 35.9 billion cubic feet (Bcf) as of March 11, down more than 50% from about 81 Bcf in early November 2018. Inventories are now historically low; only five winters since 2001 have seen natural gas inventories dip lower than current levels, according to the SoCalGas data on its public electronic bulletin board.
(Thu, 07 Mar 2019) EIA estimates that between 2014 and 2017 natural gas processing capacity and processing throughput increased by about 5% on a net basis in the Lower 48 states, even as the number of individual plants declined. Natural gas processing plant utilization rates stayed constant at 66% from 2014 to 2017, but several states experienced significant changes, largely reflecting changes in natural gas production across regions.
(Wed, 06 Mar 2019) U.S. net electricity generation increased by 4% in 2018, reaching a record high of 4,178 million megawatthours (MWh), according to EIAâs <em>Electric Power Monthly</em>. Last year was the first time total utility-scale generation surpassed the pre-recession peak of 4,157 million MWh set in 2007. Weather is the primary driver of year-to-year fluctuations in electricity demand. The increased demand for electricity in 2018âincluding record demand in the commercial and residential sectorsâis largely attributable to cold winters and a hot summer.
(Tue, 05 Mar 2019) U.S. Gulf Coast gasoline crack spreads had been declining since mid-2018 and briefly went negative in January and early February 2019 before rising, while distillate crack spreads remained relatively stable. The gasoline crack spread is the difference between the spot prices of gasoline and crude oil. EIA attributes relatively low gasoline crack spreads to more costly crude oil inputs and high gasoline inventories.
(Fri, 01 Mar 2019) In its February 2019 <em>Short-Term Energy Outlook</em> (STEO), EIA forecasts that several recent trends in U.S. biofuels markets will continue through 2020. In the STEO, production of fuel ethanol and net imports of biomass-based diesel stay unchanged, while net exports of fuel ethanol decline modestly. Federal mandates and state programs continue to support biofuel consumption through 2020, however, biofuels remain a relatively small share of total U.S. liquid transportation fuels supply.
(Thu, 28 Feb 2019) Despite relatively lower supply from a number of major crude oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Venezuela, and Canada, global liquid fuels production was forecast to exceed global consumption through 2020 in EIAâs February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).
(Thu, 28 Feb 2019) This report contains monthly summary data for the photovoltaic industry in the United States. Data include manufacturing, imports, and exports of modules in the United States and its territories. Summary data include volumes in peak kilowatts and average prices. Where possible, imports and exports are listed by country, and shipments to the United States are listed by state.
(Wed, 27 Feb 2019) Data in the February 2019 <em>Electric Power Monthly</em> (EPM) are for December 2018, during which net generation in the United States fell 4.6% from the December 2017 level. Consumption of natural gas for power generation was down 5.2% compared to December 2017. The average residential retail price of electricity for December 2018 was up 0.2% from what it had been in December 2017.
(Tue, 26 Feb 2019) Extreme cold weather in the Midwest at the end of January led to highâbut not record-settingâelectricity load on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, the coldest day of the period, on the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) grid. However, consumption of natural gas, the main fuel used for heating in the region, reached estimated record levels on the same day. Natural gas and electricity prices were elevated but did not reach levels seen during previous cold weather events in recent years.
