REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. electricity generation from wind power is on course to surpass coal-fired electricity generation, potentially by 2026, as wind supply growth expands at a record pace just as coal-fired generation is cut across the country. U.S. wind power generation on track to surpass coal-fired generationBut with wind power generation rapidly rising in most regions while utilities steadily cut coal capacity, wind output is on track to eventually overtake coal output within the U.S. electricity generation mix, which will mark a significant milestone in U.S. energy transition efforts. In 2015 - before U.S. power producers accelerated renewable power development - coal-fired electricity generation was nearly 700% greater than electricity output from U.S. wind farms. PEAKS AND TROUGHSU.S. wind generation already briefly surpassed total coal-fired power output in April this year, when wind electricity generation totalled 42.85 terawatt hours compared to the 39.8 TWh generated by coal plants, according to Ember. That means that within the current decade U.S. wind power will be able to surpass coal-fired power in the electricity generation mix, and help accomplish a major U.S. energy transition target.

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Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Gavin Maguire, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Institute for Energy Economics, U.S, P Global, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Latimer , Iowa, U.S, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States