Coal’s Share Of ERCOT Generating Mix Continues To Gain
March 10, 2014
For the second straight month, coal’s share of ERCOT’s generation mix continued to make gains in February as natural gas’ share dropped. ERCOT’s 2013 Demand and Energy by Month report shows energy consumption across the grid operator’s footprint totaled 24.86 million MWh in February, compared with 21.79 million MWh in February 2013, a 17.3 percent increase. Coal-fired facilities generated 41.5 percent of the energy needed last month, up from 38.4 percent in January and 38.7 percent in February 2013. Gas-fired plants provided 34.6 percent of the power consumed in February, down from 35.3 percent in January and 35.9 percent in February 2013. Nuclear plants provided 13.8 percent of the electricity consumed in February, a gain from 13.1 percent the previous month and 12 percent in February 2013. Wind farms provided 9.6 percent in February, a drop from 12.6 percent and 13 percent, respectively, in January 2014 and February 2013.