Renewable energy will overtake natural gas as the nation’s largest source of electricity by 2050, according to the Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook, released Jan. 29.
EIA forecasts that renewables will account for 38% of electricity in 2050, up from 19% today, while natural gas will account for 37% of electricity, compared with 36% for today. Nuclear and coal will fall to 12% and 13%, respectively. Linda Capuano, administrator of EIA, also noted that in 2019, the U.S. became a net exporter of energy with exports of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and petroleum products, a trend that will continue through 2050, according to EIA.