"The drop in coal consumption is almost entirely due to the electricity sector, which continues to use more natural gas, in favor of coal," said A.J. Simon, LLNL energy program group leader.
Renewable energy use grew too. Solar use went up 11 percent, wind increased 5 percent and utility-scale solar went up 25 percent.
Rooftop solar panels could generate nearly 40 percent of the nation’s electricity, the group reported. Popularization of the technology along with government incentives are encouraging continued drops in the cost of solar installation.