Modules loaded for transport to Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project
US shift to renewables gains momentum
A gradual move towards renewables was already underway, and the pandemic is helping to push coal further out of favour
The US is on course to increase its uptake of renewables further this year. The trend is not new, as it was already playing out some time before the emergence of Covid-19. However, early indications appear to be that the pandemic is encouraging the shift away from coal-fired generation, which is increasingly falling out of favour for multiple reasons. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the country’s renewable energy consumption last year surpassed that of coal for the first time. Total consumption of renewable energy grew for the fourth year in a row to a record high of 11.5 quadrillion Btu for 2019, while coal consumption fell for a sixth consecutive year to 11.3 q
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
