High fossil fuel use highlights US power transition challenge

A coal-fired power plant operates in the background of the recently built gas-fired power plant at Duke Energy's Crystal River Energy Complex in Crystal River, Florida, U.S., March 26, 2021. Picture taken March 26, 2021. REUTERS/Dane Rhys/File Photo

FOSSIL fuels continue to rule the roost in the United States’ power sector, despite clean energy sources being rolled out at the fastest pace in history.

For the past decade, US power generators have prioritised clean power sources over fossil fuels, and since 2014 they have lifted clean electricity generation capacity by over 70% while cutting fossil-fired capacity by 5%, according to Ember.