EIA: From 2007 to 2017, Coal Lost Dominance in 10 States

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that from 2007 to 2017, coal went from the most used fuel source in power generation to being replaced by other dominant sources in 10 states. Of the 10 states where coal lost its primary status, five now have natural gas as a dominant source, and five have nuclear. Among the states where natural gas now dominates are Delaware, Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma and Alabama. The states were nuclear power replaced coal as the dominant fuel source include Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina and Arizona. Industrial Info is tracking more than $130 billion in active Power Industry projects in these 10 states.

While natural gas currently takes the lead in power generation in Georgia, one of the largest projects in the U.S. being tracked by Industrial Info is a nuclear project in the state. The addition of units 3 and 4 at the Vogtle nuclear power plant began in 2012 and is expected to be completed in 2022. The project has a total investment value (TIV) of more than $27 billion and has faced several price increases along the way, most recently in August. For more information, see August 10, 2018, article - Vogtle Costs Increase $2.3 Billion, Cancellation is Possible. Southern Company (NYSE:SO) (Atlanta, Georgia) is the lead developer of the plant. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Some of the largest natural gas-fired projects being tracked by Industrial Info are occurring in Virginia, where that fuel is the dominant fuel source. Among these is Dominion Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:D) (Richmond, Virginia) construction of the Greensville County combined-cycle plant in Emporia, Virginia. The plant will have a generating capacity of 1,588 megawatts (MW). Construction began in late 2011 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) (Irving, Texas) is providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on the project, which has an estimated TIV of $1.3 billion. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Pennsylvania, with nuclear now the dominant fuel source, is seeing a definite shift to natural gas-fired generation thanks to the abundance of inexpensive natural gas sourced from the Marcellus Shale. Among the natural gas-fired projects in the state is Invenergy LLC's (Chicago, Illinois) Lackawanna Energy Center in Jessup. The grassroot plant will have a generating capacity of 1,485 MW. Kiewit Power Constructors Company (Lenexa, Kansas) is providing EPC. The project has an estimated TIV of $1.25 billion. The plant will use General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Boston, Massachusetts) equipment. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

While natural gas also dominates power in Oklahoma, wind projects take the lead in the value of active projects. Among these is the Phase II addition at the Persimmon Creek Windfarm near Buffalo. The project will add 249 MW of power through 134 General Electric wind turbine-generators. Construction is set to kick off next quarter for completion in the third quarter of 2019. Phase II could be followed by a Phase III expansion in 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on Phase II and Phase III.

While the Vogtle plant in Georgia remains the only grassroot nuclear project underway in the U.S., in the states where nuclear is a dominant fuel, maintaining the existing fleet contributes significantly to the state's maintenance project costs. Among these is Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) current outage at the McGuire Nuclear Power Station's Unit 2 in Huntersville, North Carolina. The refueling outage is scheduled to be completed next month. In addition, a refueling outage is scheduled for Unit 1 in the first quarter of next year. The projects have combined estimated TIV of more than $56 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the Unit 1 and Unit 2 outages.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.