By Ehren Goossens
Bloomberg News
Total U.S. electricity demand increased 1.4 percent last year, the first gain since 2010 and reversing long-term trends in the energy industry, according to a new report.
Coal produced 39 percent of U.S. electricity in 2013, up from 37 percent a year earlier, while power from natural gas slipped three points to 28 percent as prices climbed, according to the Sustainable Energy in America 2013 Factbook by Bloomberg New Energy Finance released today.
That led to the first increase in U.S. carbon-dioxide emissions since 2010. President Barack Obama has pledged to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels. Wind, solar, hydropower and other renewable sources produced 13 percent of the country’s electricity, up one point from 2012.
Growing demand: New power lines may be coming to Houston
Carbon emissions “actually ticked back up somewhat due to a short-term rebound in coal-fired generation,” according to the report.
The 2013 results buck the long-term trend, the London-based research group said. Electricity consumption has declined 5 percent since 2007, largely due to improved energy efficiency. Use of coal is down from 49 percent of total generation, while gas increased from 22 percent of the mix and renewable energy has surged from 8 percent. Carbon emissions are down about 9.8 percent from 2005, after peaking in 2007.
The report was produced with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
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News tickers in Times Square are blank during a massive blackout August 14, 2003 in New York City. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said there were no indications that terrorists were responsible for the blackout that has also affected Ohio, and Canada.
lessNews tickers in Times Square are blank during a massive blackout August 14, 2003 in New York City. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said there were no indications that terrorists were
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People shop in a store by candlelight in New York City the day after one of the largest blackouts in the nations history August 15, 2003 In New York. Power went out across large parts of the East Coast of North America Thursday afternoon.
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New Yorkers wait in line for a late-night meal August 15, 2003 in New York, New York. Many remain without electricity caused by a blackout that affected the entire city and most of the eastern part of the nation.
lessNew Yorkers wait in line for a late-night meal August 15, 2003 in New York, New York. Many remain without electricity caused by a blackout that affected the entire city and most of the eastern part of the
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Travelers sleep on the floor at JFK Airport August 15, 2003 in New York City. Yesterday's blackout, the largest in U.S. history, virtually shutdown the northeast and parts of the Midwest and Canada, causing millions to suffer through one of the hottest days of the summer.
lessTravelers sleep on the floor at JFK Airport August 15, 2003 in New York City. Yesterday's blackout, the largest in U.S. history, virtually shutdown the northeast and parts of the Midwest and Canada, causing
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The sun sets over the Manhattan skyline August 14, 2003 during a major power outage affecting a large part of the north eastern United States and Canada.
The sun sets over the Manhattan skyline August 14, 2003 during a major power outage affecting a large part of the north eastern United States and Canada.
Photo: Robert Giroux / Getty Images
People watch a news ticker reading "Power Outage is The Biggest in US History" in Times Square during a massive blackout August 15, 2003 in New York City. Power is slowly returning to certain parts of the city.
lessPeople watch a news ticker reading "Power Outage is The Biggest in US History" in Times Square during a massive blackout August 15, 2003 in New York City. Power is slowly returning to certain parts of the
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Stranded travelers try to keep cool in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, as most of the city woke up without electricity for a second day. New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history. More than 50 million people were affected by the outage, in Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland and New York City.
lessStranded travelers try to keep cool in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, as most of the city woke up without electricity for a second day. New York was hit by the largest power
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Stranded travelers try to keep cool in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, as most of the city woke up without electricity for a second day. New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history. More than 50 million people were affected by the outage, in Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland and New York City.
lessStranded travelers try to keep cool in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, as most of the city woke up without electricity for a second day. New York was hit by the largest power
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Statue of Liberty is not affected by the blackout. New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history, August 14, 2003.
Statue of Liberty is not affected by the blackout. New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history, August 14, 2003.
Photo: Jason Nevader / WireImage
Subway station at 23rd street and 6th avenue is empty after New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history, August 14, 2003. It stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and created a transportation nightmare.
lessSubway station at 23rd street and 6th avenue is empty after New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history, August 14, 2003. It stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders
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New York City skyline is dimmed by the blackout. New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history August 14, 2003. More than 50 million people were affected by the outage. Thousands of commuters were stranded, trapped subway riders underground and created a transportation nightmare.
lessNew York City skyline is dimmed by the blackout. New York was hit by the largest power blackout in American history August 14, 2003. More than 50 million people were affected by the outage. Thousands of
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The Empire State Building towers over the skyline of a blackout-darkened New York City just before dawn in August 2003. Power lines from Jersey City, N.J., are in foreground. Ten years after a blackout cascading from Ohio affected 50 million people, utilities and analysts say changes made in the aftermath make a similar outage unlikely today, though shifts in where and how power is generated raise new reliability concerns for the U.S. electric grid system.
lessThe Empire State Building towers over the skyline of a blackout-darkened New York City just before dawn in August 2003. Power lines from Jersey City, N.J., are in foreground. Ten years after a blackout
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US electricity demand rose in 2013, boosting emissions
