據道瓊斯12月22日消息，美國能源信息署（EIA）表示，今年全年是美國天然氣發電量高于燃煤發電量的第一年。今年美國約34%的電力來自于天然氣發電，而燃煤發電量為30%，而去年均為33%。頁巖氣的繁榮導致美國天然氣供應充裕而且廉價，這是導致天然氣發電量首次超過燃煤發電量的主要因素。過去十年間，美國發電廠的天然氣平均燃料收據成本已經大幅下降，而煤炭平均燃料收據成本出現增加。此外環保法規和風力、太陽能和其他可再生能源發電也抑制了燃煤發電量。

　　龐曉華摘譯自道瓊斯

　　原文如下：

　　Natural Gas Dominates Coal for First Full Year

　　This year is the first full year during which more power will be generated with natural gas than coal, the Energy Information Administration says. About 34% of this years power was likely fueled with natural gas, while 30% was fueled with coal, compared to 33% for each fuel in 2015. The primary driver is the shale-gas boom, which is making gas cheap and plentiful. Average fuel receipt costs at power plants over the past 10 years have plunged for gas and increased for coal. Environmental regulations and the growth of wind, solar and other renewable power generation are also keeping a lid on coal-fired power generation.