Dive Brief:

• Renewables are increasing in the West while coal use is declining, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
• Nuclear power took a hit when the 2,200-MW San Onofre nuclear plant shut down in January 2012. Southern California Edison this summer said it would retire the plant.
• California, which uses 40% of the power in the West, helps drive resource decisions through its renewable portfolio standard, which climbs to 33% by 2020.

Dive Insight:

The EIA did not directly touch on it, but California has affected Western states by its decision to bar conventional coal-fired generation from its resource mix. As a result, California utilities are selling their shares in massive coal-fired plants in Arizona and New Mexico. Not coincidentally, those plants – the Four Corners, Navajo and San Juan facilities – will see unit retirements under pending plans, lowering the coal-fired capacity in the region.