The expansion of solar has pushed renewables past coal in the regional grid that includes West Virginia.
According to April data, renewables now generate more electricity than coal in the PJM market, which includes West Virginia as well as portions of 12 other states and the District of Columbia.
On Thursday morning, newly released PJM data revealed that renewables generated nearly 11,800 megawatts of the region’s load. Coal generated fewer than 11,700 megawatts.
According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, solar is driving the increase in renewables.
The institute reported that solar set three PJM peak records this month, on April 1, 16, and 17. These records pushed solar above 11,000 megawatts for the first time, accounting for nearly 14% of the region’s electricity demand.
Currently, the region’s two dominant power sources are gas and nuclear.
President Donald Trump signed four executive orders this month aimed at increasing coal production and preventing coal-fired power plants from being retired.
In recent years, however, the electricity market has favored natural gas and, increasingly, renewables.
Texas, once the largest user of coal for electricity, received half of its power from utility-scale solar on April 11, according to the institute.
This follows a record-breaking March for wind power in Texas. Texas is the nation’s largest consumer of electricity and, like West Virginia, is a major gas producer.
With 65 million residents, PJM is the country’s largest regional electricity market.
