For the first three months of 2025, coal-fired power plants in the US produced 194,546 GWh of electricity. This is an increase of 36,407 GWh over the same period in 2024, or a 23% increase.
Power generation from natural gas declined by 13,941 from 2024, and generation from total renewable sources (including hydro and small scale solar) increased by 27,272 GWh.
If we total everything together, overall power generation for the first three months increased by 4.9% over 2024. There are predictions that the increased power needs for training and running AI, plus the increasing numbers of electric vehicles on the roads, will drive up overall power demand. We might be seeing the beginning stages of this. Overall electricity demand for full-year 2024 was 3.1% higher than for 2023, and 2025 (so far) looks to be higher than 2024.
Jan - Mar, US electricity, TWh
2024 2025 Change %Change
Coal 158.1 194.5 +36.4 +23%
Nat Gas 421.7 407.8 -13.9 -3
Nuclear 197.0 196.0 -1.0 -0.5
Hydro 65.4 62.6 -2.8 -4
Renew 176.0 204.1 +28.1 +16
Small Solar 17.4 19.3 +1.9 +11
Other 7.4 9.5 +2.1 +28
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total 1,043.0 1,093.8 +50.8 +4.9%
In summary…
Coal use is up, while natural gas use is down. Renewables are up, but since overall electricity demand is up, net consumption of fossil fuels is up on a total energy basis.
_ Pete