- Mark NRG
King Coal Crown Still Slipping
Natural gas star performer in polar vortex 2019.
Natural gas captured one-third of the fuel mix at the peak of this year's winter weather, up 45% from polar vortex 2018. The role of coal may have been diminished by persistent low prices for NG, but coal retirements certainly limited fleet output. Oil trended unfashionably, too.
PJM markets for reserves sent out low price signals. According to PJM, that signals a flaw. Maybe low prices were the right ones. Since January 1, PJM issued 9 cold weather alerts, but not a single maximum generation alert. Guess there was plenty of gas in the tank, coal on the pile, wind in the sails, etc …
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