(NAFB) – The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts record-high natural gas consumption in the United States for electricity generation in July and August.

The forecast comes as another hot summer increases demand for air conditioning. In its July Short-Term Energy Outlook, EIA expects about four percent more U.S. electricity generation from natural gas in July and August 2023 than in 2022. Natural gas will provide about 46 percent of U.S. electricity for those two months and provide 41 percent of U.S. electricity for the year, according to EIA’s forecast. EIA also expects a six percent increase in electricity generation from renewables and a two percent increase in generation from nuclear energy.

Also, EIA reduced its forecast for growth in U.S. renewable diesel production from previous forecasts. An EIA spokesperson says, “We still expect significant growth in renewable diesel production, but changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard slightly lower the growth rate in the short term.” EIA expects the United States to produce about 161,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel in 2023, which is a 66 percent increase from 2022.