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Finishline42

(1,189 posts)
2. 2019 refers to Table 1 in the study
Fri Jun 26, 2026, 09:36 AM
Yesterday
Table 1. Evolution of the PJM Generation Fleet’s Installed Capacity (GW) by Fuel Type from 2010 (Analysis Year of Weis et al. (49)) to 2019 (This Study’s Analysis Year)

Why wasn't the mix of power plants updated? The following is what I got from Google when I asked >>> current pjm installed fleet of power generation

The PJM Interconnection manages a vast regional grid spanning 13 states and the District of Columbia, comprising approximately 1,436 electric power generators with a total installed capacity of roughly 198,800 megawatts (MW).The PJM fleet relies primarily on natural gas, coal, and nuclear power, with a shifting focus on renewable integration:

Natural Gas: ~56,100 MW (approx. 28.2%), making it the largest block of generating capacity.
Coal: ~38,800 MW (approx. 19.5%). A large portion of the installed coal fleet (31,200+ MW) is over 40 years old and has been driving major fleet retirements.
Nuclear: ~33,500 MW (approx. 16.8%).
Renewables & Storage: ~4% to 5% of installed capacity. This is split among wind (~2%), solar (~1%), hydro, and a rapidly emerging (but still small) amount of battery storage.

The grid mix is undergoing a dramatic shift driven by data center load growth and aggressive coal retirements. PJM is processing hundreds of gigawatts of new generator interconnection requests, though the majority are waiting to clear supply chain and permitting hurdles to join the operational fleet.


Renewables play a very small part but what about customer installed solar? Is that counted? I ask because when EV owners install solar it pretty much eliminates the main premise of the study - that EV's create more pollution than ICE vehicles (reminds me of the internet claims that the Hummer was more environmentally friendly than a Prius).

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