Natual Gas used for Generating Electricity

It is forecasted that power plants will take over from industrial gas users as the peak natural gas users in the comming years. Two factors are driving this transition. Firstly, America's ecomony is moving to a more service based ecomony from a manufacturing or industrial based ecomony. Manufacturing is moving to countries with lower labor costs such as China and India. Secondly, environmental and health concerns have prevented the use of Coal for generating electricity. This isa trend that will likely continue as global warming issues move to the forefront. Our research indicates that about 200 new natural gas power plants have been built in North America since 1990.

nat gas used for electricity generation in the USA
Historical Data Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table1_1.html
The forecast is created for educational purposes and considers analyst opinion of future green house gas emission caps which will limit the use of coal in any new generation projects.