THIS SUMMER WAS MONUMENTAL FOR NATURAL GAS,
Ending With Record-Setting August DYLAN LACROIX | U.S. Energy Information Administration This summer, Americans received power by means of natural gas in record-breaking numbers. According to estimates from S&P Global Platts, electricity generated by natural gas reached a daily record high of 47.2 billion cubic feet as of July 27, 2020. That same day, natural gas-fired electricity in the lower 48 reached an all-time high of 316 gigawatts (GW). As the United States continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing is clear: natural gas provides affordable energy security to millions of Americans—and this summer’s record demand proves just that. Daily Record Natural Gas Burn in July July’s record-setting natural gas burn did not come as a surprise, either. Just a year prior, the United States set a similar record of 45.4 bcf on August 6, 2019. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration reporting, the rise in power burn was associated with lower national prices for natural gas and expanded use of natural gas-fired capacity. Or, in other words, natural gas has proven itself to be an affordable, reliable and resilient option for powering American homes and businesses.
individuals and people of color—the same demographics positioned to benefit the most from increased natural gas-fired electricity. Meeting Energy Demands When looking at the portfolio of energy production in the contiguous United States, electricity generated by natural gas made up the largest share of all energy sources on July 27, 2020, roughly 45 percent. Second to natural gas, coal made up almost a quarter of U.S. energy sources at 24 percent, with nuclear and renewable energy at 17 and 12 percent, respectively. Activation of natural gas as an energy source is a key competitive advantage when compared to other sources of energy. As stated in the EIA’s most recent Record continued on page 4
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Natural gas is also becoming a vital component to alleviating financial strains for low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey by Indiana University found that higher energy costs are disproportionately affecting low-income
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