U.S. coal consumption in 2018 is expected to fall to 691 million short tons, a 4% decline from 2017 and the lowest level since 1979, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Tuesday. U.S. coal consumption has been falling since its peak in 2007, and the EIA forecasts that 2018 coal consumption will be 437 million short tons lower than 2007 levels, mainly driven by declines in coal use in the electric power sector.

The electric power sector is the nation's largest consumer of coal, accounting for 93% of total U.S. coal consumption between 2007 and 2018. Industrial Info is tracking more than $10 billion in project activity related to U.S. coal-fired power plants.