This just in: Despite the coal industry’s misleading commercials, coal no longer provides 50 percent of all energy in the U.S.!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing that coal’s share of total monthly generation fell below 40 percent in November and December 2011 and the combination of a mild winter and a decrease in natural gas prices might be the leading contributors.

Photo Credit: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Due to the warm trend in this year’s winter, natural gas prices have significantly dropped, which is allowing generators in many states to increase the share of natural gas-fired generation and cut coal’s share of electricity generation.