Natural Gas demand going up this summer

[dan_s]

Not as much coal-fired power this summer but more natural gas . Houston Chronicle

The nation's power generators will use less coal this summer and more natural gas, reflecting the recent closure of coal-fired plants around the country. The Department of Energy forecasts that coal will provide 25 percent of U.S. electricity generation this summer, down from 28 percent last summer. Natural gas, the nation's single biggest power source, is expected to supply 40 percent of power generation this summer, up from 39 percent last summer. Hydroelectric power is expected to provide 7 percent of the nation's electricity this summer and wind energy will supply 6 percent, according to the Energy Department. Remaining power sources include biomass, geothermal and utility-scale solar energy.