Thread by @climate

The American fracking boom and slow rise of renewables made gas look like the future of energy not too long ago.

Now, the demand for gas may be peaking decades ahead of schedule—and the future looks a lot different

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Billions have been spent on building infrastructure to support natural gas, but demand is waning decades ahead of expectation.

Renewables’ dominance may come as soon as 2028, demolishing the bridge gas was supposed to provide after coal’s demise

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How did the landscape change so fast?

➡️ Economics
➡️ Politics

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The price of power from solar arrays and onshore wind turbines continues to plummet, and both technologies lack fuel costs.

Gas has simply fallen out of political favor in much of the country as lawmakers try to combat climate change

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Several states including California and New York already have legal mandates to reach 100% renewable or carbon-free electricity by 2050 or sooner.

This is just the start

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Other states have established mandatory goals below 100% or voluntary targets.

All told, more than half of U.S. states have established renewable-energy targets that will push utilities away from gas

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At the local level, more than 30 U.S. cities have put in place gas hook-up moratoriums on new construction in support of all-electric buildings.

This is a green step forward

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In 2000, solar was still more expensive than coal and natural gas in many counties. Fossil-fueled power beat renewables in 61% of U.S. counties.

Today, renewables beat natural gas as a cheap new power source in windy and sunny counties

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