The Stream, July 15: Natural Gas Ousts Coal As Top Electricity Producer in the United States

The Global Rundown

For at least one month this year, natural gas produced more electricity in the United States than coal. Fighting in eastern Ukraine has damaged water infrastructure, causing shortages. New technology could reduce the water used to extract Canada’s oil sands. Flooding along the Illinois River shut down shipping traffic, and U.S. business groups filed a lawsuit against the government’s proposed Clean Water Rule.

“By broadly redefining the ‘waters of the United States,’ the agencies have asserted unprecedented authority to regulate the nation’s waters. In doing so, the agencies have exceeded their power under the Clean Water Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiffs bring this action to stop this extraordinary expansion of federal authority.”–Excerpt from a lawsuit filed Friday by U.S. business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to stop the federal government from implementing its proposed Clean Water Rule, which outlines the waterways covered by the federal Clean Water Act. (Climate Progress)

By The Numbers

1.3 million people Number facing water shortages in eastern Ukraine due to infrastructure damage caused by fighting, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund. Reuters

80 kilometers Stretch of the United States’ Illinois River closed to shipping traffic on Tuesday due to floods and high water levels, prompting corn prices to rise. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

Natural gas is now the most dominant source of electricity in the United States, taking over from coal for the first time in history, according to statistics released by the federal Energy Information Administration. Natural gas produced 31.5 percent of electricity in April this year compared to the 30.2 percent produced by coal. The shift has implications for water use at power plants. Guardian

On The Radar

Canada’s largest oil and gas company, Suncor Energy, announced a pilot project testing new technology that could reduce the amount of water used to extract oil from oil sands in Alberta. The technology uses radio waves instead of steam to separate the oil. Reuters

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek