(Mon, 09 Jul 2018) EIA has added existing, retired, and proposed power plants in Puerto Rico to its <em>Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory</em>. This EIA report includes generating units at power plants with a combined nameplate capacity of one megawatt (MW) or greater.
(Tue, 03 Jul 2018) Fossil fuelsâpetroleum, natural gas, and coalâhave accounted for at least 80% of energy consumption in the United States for well over a century. The fossil fuel share of total U.S. energy consumption in 2017 was the lowest share since 1902, at a little more than 80%, as U.S. fossil fuel consumption decreased for the third consecutive year.
(Mon, 02 Jul 2018) The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), grid operator for most of the state of Texas, estimates a reserve margin of 11% for this summerâlower than previous years and ERCOTâs 13.75% reference reserve marginâindicating a smaller cushion of resources to meet summer peak demand and an increased risk of grid stress conditions. The lower anticipated reserve margin is mainly a result of three large coal plants retiring in early 2018 and forecasts of record-breaking summer electricity demand.
(Fri, 29 Jun 2018) The North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) recent <em>2018 Summer Reliability Assessment</em> finds that there are enough resources to meet this summer's projected peak electricity demand in in all areas of the country except the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Anticipated reserve margins—the amount of expected unused electric generating capacity at the time of peak load—range from a little less than 11% in ERCOT to about 33% in PJM Interconnection (PJM).
(Fri, 29 Jun 2018) The State Energy Data System now features annual state-level estimates of energy production, consumption, prices, and expenditures by energy source and by sector through 2016.
(Thu, 28 Jun 2018) A new study commissioned by EIA examines the role of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines in integrating renewables resources into the electric grid. The review indicates that, although applications in the current electric transmission network are limited, HVDC lines have a number of potential benefits including cost effectiveness, lower electricity losses, and the ability to handle overloads and prevent cascading failures.
In June 2008, S&P Global Platts launched the world's first daily iron ore price assessment, IODEX, from its Singapore office. Over the next two years, this price would gradually replace the old benchmark as more companies opted to price their physical iron ore using modern market-tracking techniques.
(Wed, 27 Jun 2018) U.S. regular-grade retail gasoline prices averaged $2.89 per gallon (gal) in June, down from a high of $2.96/gal on May 28. EIA estimates that gasoline prices will remain lower than the May 28 price for the rest of the summer, reaching $2.84/gal in September. Gasoline prices are often higher in summer months when gasoline demand is higher and when federal and state environmental regulations require the use of summer-grade gasoline, which is more expensive to manufacture. Following the summer, EIA expects gasoline prices to decline to $2.68/gal by December.
(Tue, 26 Jun 2018) Starting with the May 2018 release of the <em>Petroleum Supply Monthly</em>, EIA now publishes U.S. petroleum export data by region, defined as Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PADD), of origin and by country of destination. Before this change, users could only see the total amount exported from each U.S. PADD, but not the actual destination associated with those PADD-level exports.
(Mon, 25 Jun 2018) Consumption of hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL) in the United States totaled 928 million barrels in 2016, up about 12% since 2010. During the same time, total U.S. HGL prices fell by 47% and, consequently, expenditures decreased by about 41%. In 2016, total U.S. HGL expenditures were $32 billion, the lowest since 2003.
