US coal generation slipped slightly in August, totaling 135.98 GWh, down 0.6% from July but up 0.5% from the year-ago month, Energy Information Administration data, released Tuesday, showed.
Coal made up 33.1% of US electricity generation during the month, unchanged from July but below the 34.4% share it had in August 2015.
Natural gas generation in August totaled 155.87 GWh, a new record monthly total, breaking the prior record of 152.46 GWh set in July. Gas made up 37.9% for all US electricity generation during the month, also a new high. The previous high was in July, at 36.9%.
August gas generation was up 2.2% from the prior month and 11.7% from same month a year ago.
Total US generation at utility-scale facilities came to 410.89 GWh in August, down 0.6% from July, but up 4.4% from the year-ago month.
Renewables, including wind, hydroelectric power and utility-scale solar, generated 43.78 GWh in August, falling 12.2% from July but rising 3.1% from August 2015. The category made up 10.7% of US power generation in August, down from 12.1% in July and 10.8% in the year-ago month.
