What rail traffic tells us about electricity generation.

U.S. Energy Information Administration:

The record increase in U.S. crude oil production during 2012 and the significant decline in coal use for domestic electricity generation were reflected in the movement of those two commodities by rail last year. Crude oil and petroleum products accounted for the biggest increase in railcar loadings among commodities in 2012, while coal had the largest decline. Notwithstanding these changes, coal remained by far the dominant category of carload shipments, accounting for 41% of total carloads, compared to a 4% share for all petroleum and petroleum products combined.

Coal generation is down, though it’s not being replaced by renewables but natural gas, which is usually transported via pipelines.

(Via David Biello.)

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