March 29 marked the first time wind surpassed coal, nuclear power in lower 48

April Siese

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Friday April 15, 2022 · 2:17 PM PDT

2022/04/15 · 14:17

PALM SPRINGS, CA - DECEMBER 17: Storm clouds swirl over giant windmills and the snow-covered San Gorgonio Mountains as an El Nino-influenced storm passes over the state on December 17, 2002 near Palm Springs, California. Because of consistantly high winds, thousands of giant windmills have sprouted in the area to create wind-powered electricity. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) — Wind accounted for 19% of all power generation in the Lower 48, while coal only generated 17% of power. Nuclear was just below wind, marking the first time that wind surpassed both in a single day.

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Wind power is slowly but surely cementing its importance to the energy grid. Last month marked a particular milestone for wind power generation, with turbines generating 2,017 gigawatts in the lower 48 on March 29—the first day in recorded history that wind surpassed both coal and nuclear, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Wind power accounted for 19% of power generation on that day, while nuclear was just a fraction under. Coal power generation stood at 17%. March 29 certainly offered the right conditions for wind power to flex its might: According to the EIA, wind power generation generally hits its high point in the spring.

Nuclear and coal power facilities also tend to undergo maintenance during the season due to lower overall power demand. The EIA noted another moment in which, for an hour during last month, wind accounted for the most substantial power source in the lower 48. The agency does not believe wind will give coal and nuclear power a run for its money just yet. According to the EIA, it is improbable that wind will surpass both in a given month in 2022 or 2023. Still, developments in wind power have certainly been encouraging.

Wind power did not come online at a commercial scale in the U.S. until the 1980s, though its growth has of late has been substantial. In 2021, wind led the pack in added power grid capacity as more and more turbines came online. Copious wind farm projects are either being pulled together or in the early proposal stages across the country. And, according to the climate think tank Ember, the entire world seems to be on the right track with wind power. A recent report found that renewables overall reached record growth, accounting for 38% of all power generation on the planet. These developments indicate that we very well may be on the right track when it comes to using renewable energy to reach net-zero goals.

As for the two states not included in the EIA’s data—Alaska and Hawaii—both seem to be starting to embrace renewables like wind power. A fact sheet from the Hawaii Energy Office notes that 2019 saw wind account for 4.9% of the state’s energy production. Alaska appears to be slowly growing its wind power output, with wind accounting for 7% of Alaska’s renewable energy output, or 2.14% of the overall power generated in the state. Interior wind farms have been especially of interest in Alaska, where rural communities are looking to renewables to power their towns instead of the usual emission-heavy diesel generators.

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March 29 marked the first time wind surpassed coal, nuclear power in lower 48

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