---
title: IEA Releases Short-Term U.S. Energy Outlook, Plus a New First for Wind Power?
description: Our clients span a wide range of industries and power generation methods, so we like to keep a close eye on energy-related trends and forecasts.   Here we highlight the EIA's just-released short-term energy forecast, plus a notable first that may happen with regards to wind power.
---

[IEM Blog ](https://blog.iemfg.com/blog)

# [IEA Releases Short-Term U.S. Energy Outlook, Plus a New First for Wind Power?](https://blog.iemfg.com/blog/iea-releases-short-term-u.s.-energy-outlook-plus-a-new-first-for-wind-power)

 Written by [IEM Blogger](https://blog.iemfg.com/blog/author/iem-blogger) | Tuesday, April 10, 2018

****

Because our customers span a wide range of industries and power generation methods, we like to keep a close eye on energy-related trends and forecasts.

This month the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its short-term energy forecast heading into the 2018 summer season.  Highlights from that outlook included the following:

- It is expected that the share of U.S. total utility-scale electricity generation from natural gas-fired power plants to rise from 32% in 2017 to 34% in 2018 and to remain at 34% in 2019.
- In addition, the forecast electricity generation share from coal is expected to average 29% in both 2018 and 2019, down from 30% in 2017.
- The nuclear share of generation was 20% in 2017 and is forecast to average 20% in 2018 and 19% in 2019.
- Non-hydropower renewables provided slightly less than 10% of electricity generation in 2017 and are expected to provide 10% in 2018 and nearly 11% in 2019.
- The generation share of hydropower was about 7% in 2017 and is forecast to fall to less than 7% in both 2018 and 2019.
- In 2017 EIA estimated that wind generated an average of 697,000 megawatthours per day (MWh/d). EIA projects that will rise to 735,000 MWh/d in 2018 and to 779,000 MWh/d in 2019.

They also noted that if factors such as precipitation and snowpack remain as forecasted, conventional hydropower is projected to generate 732,000 MWh/d in 2019, [making it the first year that wind generation would exceed hydropower generation](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=34652) in the United States.

To see all of the forecasted statistics from the EIA, you can [access the full report here](https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/pdf/steo_full.pdf).

**To Learn More**

For more information about how IEM can help you address your power distribution needs, please feel free to contact us today.

 

 

[View full post](https://blog.iemfg.com/blog/iea-releases-short-term-u.s.-energy-outlook-plus-a-new-first-for-wind-power)

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