U.S. RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION SURGES BY 32%;

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACCOUNTS FOR 11% OF TOTAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY

WIND, SOLAR, HYDROPOWER ALL EXPERIENCE DRAMATIC INCREASES

AS NUCLEAR POWER’S SHARE DIPS

For Immediate Release:  October 9, 2008

Contact:  Ken Bossong 301-270-6477 x.23

Washington DC -- According to the latest "Monthly Electricity Review" issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (October 3, 2008), net U.S. generation of electricity from renewable energy sources surged by 32 percent in June 2008 compared to June 2007.

Renewable energy (biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) totaled 41,160,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) in June 2008 up from 31,242,000 MWh in June 2007.  Renewables accounted for 11.0% of net U.S. electricity generation in June 2008 compared to 8.6% in June 2007.

Compared to June 2007, wind power grew by 81.6% in June 2008 while solar and conventional hydropower experienced increases of 42.6% and 34.7% respectively.  Geothermal energy also enjoyed a slight increase (0.8%) while biomass (wood + waste) remained relatively unchanged.

Renewable energy sources now account for 37% of the non-fossil net electricity generation in the United States.

Net electricity generation from non-hydroelectric renewables (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, wind) increased by 24 percent to 10,357,000 MWh and now accounts for just under three percent of total net U.S. electricity generation.

By comparison, nuclear power’s share of total net U.S. electricity generation dipped from 19.0% in June 2007 to 18.8% in June 2008.  Total U.S. net electricity generation increased by 2.9% to 373,632,000 MWh.

“The Bush Administration’s own data clearly illustrate which energy options should be the focus of future investment,” said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign “The dizzyingly high growth rates that renewable energy sources continue to enjoy - compared to the stagnant figures for nuclear power - strongly argue for directing limited federal energy dollars into sustainable energy technologies.”

A summary table prepared by the SUN DAY Campaign based on the data in the EIA report is attached. The full EIA report “Electric Power Monthly” can be accessed at:  http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm_sum.html  

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The SUN DAY Campaign is a non-profit research and educational organization founded in 1993 to promote sustainable energy technologies as cost-effective alternatives to nuclear power and fossil fuels.