Americans are on track to use more coal this year — first increase since 2014

Americans' use of coal is set to increase this year — the first time in seven years that annual use of the energy source has risen.

Coal, which accounted for about 20% of U.S electricity in 2020, is on track to generate roughly 24% of the nation's power this year, the Energy Information Administration predicted this week. That's largely because natural gas, coal's main competitor, has gotten pricier in the past year, the agency said.

Still, the spike in coal usage is likely to be short-lived, with the EIA expecting coal power to decline again next year.