Coal's share of electric generation was 46% in first quarter, the lowest figure in 30 years

Coal's contribution to electric-power generation during the first quarter of this year was the lowest in 30 years, the U. S. Energy Information Administration reports. Coal accounted for 46 percent of total electricity, 3 percentage points less than the same period last year and 6 points down from 2008.

Most of the difference was made up by natural gas, which is increasingly competing with coal. A steady increase in the spot price of coal in the Eastern U.S., combined with comparatively low natural gas prices, have contributed to the declining use of coal across the nation. In the Midwest, which depends most on coal, the rock's share fell to 66.9 percent from 70.5 percent in the first quarter of 2010. (Read more)