EIA: U.S. added 15.6 MW of bioenergy capacity in April

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published the June issue of its Electric Power Monthly report, indicating that the U.S. added 15.6 MW of bioenergy capacity in April. The additions include 6.7 MW of electric production capacity from landfill gas and 8.9 MW of capacity from waste biomass sources other than waste wood and municipal solid waste (MSW).

As of the close of April, the EIA reports that the U.S. has 13,336 MW of biomass power capacity, including 8,230.3 MW of capacity from wood and wood waste, 2,002.3 MW of capacity from landfill gas, 2,230.7 MW of capacity from MSW, and 872.7 MW other sources of waste biomass.

According to the EIA, the U.S. generated a total of 4,827 GWh of electricity from biomass in April across all sectors, an increase of 11.4 percent when compared to the 4,335 GWh generated in April 2013. On a regional basis, the South Atlantic led with 1,407 GWh, an 18.7 percent increase over the same month of last year. On a sector by sector basis across the entire U.S., electric utilities generated 266 GWh from biomass in April, while independent power producers generated 1.987 GWh. The commercial sector generated 212 GWh of electricity from biomass resources, with the industrial sector generating 2,361 GWh.

Data published by the EIA as part of its Electricity Monthly Update notes total net electric generation in the U.S. dropped 0.4 percent in April when compared the same month last year, reaching 296,779 GWh. Residential retail prices increased 3.2 percent, reaching 12.31 cents per kWh. Retail sales, however, were down 0.8 percent, reaching 272,863 GWh.