Renewable Energy Rises to Over 10% of U.S.
Energy Production & Electricity
Washington DC -- 12/28/09
According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), renewable energy sources
(i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, wind)
provided 10.51% of domestic U.S. energy production during the first nine
months of 2009 – the latest time-frame for which data has been
published. And according to EIA’s latest "Electric Power Monthly,"
renewable energy sources provided 10.21% of net U.S. electrical
generation for the first nine months of 2009.
This continues the steady growth trend for renewable energy. Renewable
energy sources accounted for 9.67% of domestic energy production during
the first nine months of 2007. That increased to 10.12% for the first
three-quarters of 2008.
Domestic energy production from renewable sources grew by 4.10% during
the first nine months of 2009 compared to the first nine months of 2008
– an increase of 0.228 quadrillion Btu’s. Most of that growth came from
wind and hydropower which expanded by 28.46% and 4.73% respectively
during the first three-quarters of 2009 compared to the same period in
2008. In addition, biomass (comprised of roughly 60% wood + wood waste
and 40% biofuels) grew by 1.34%; the growth reflects a 10.96% increase
in biofuels production. The contributions from solar and geothermal
remained essentially unchanged. The mix of renewable energy sources
consisted of hydropower (35.16%), biomass (30.72%), biofuels (20.25%),
wind (8.17%), geothermal (4.52%), and solar (1.17%).
Moreover, renewable energy’s contribution to the nation’s domestic
energy production is now almost equal to that provided by nuclear power,
which has been holding fairly steady in recent years (11.59% for the
first nine months of 2009, 11.57% for the first three-quarters of 2008,
and 11.92% for the first three-quarters of 2007). In the first
three-quarters of 2009, nuclear power increased by only 0.41% compared
to the same period in 2008, while domestic fossil fuel production
actually dropped by 0.30%.
“When Congress resumes its debate on pending energy and climate
legislation in 2010, it would do well to take note of the clear trends
in the nation’s changing energy mix,” said Ken Bossong, Executive
Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “Renewable energy has proven itself to
be a solid investment - growing rapidly and nipping at the heels of the
stagnant nuclear power industry - while fossil fuel use continues to
drop.”
In the electricity sector, conventional hydropower accounted for 6.89%
of U.S. net electrical generation during the first nine months of 2009
while other renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, solar, wind)
accounted for 3.32% -- for a total of 10.21%. By comparison for the
first three quarters of 2008, renewables accounted for 9.18% of net
electrical generation (hydropower - 6.27%; non-hydro - 2.91%); and in
the same period in 2007, renewables accounted for 8.72% of net U.S.
electrical production (hydro - 6.28%; non-hydro - 2.44%).
While renewably-generated electricity has grown, overall net U.S.
electrical generation was 4.72% lower for the first nine months of 2009
compared to the first half of 2008 with coal-generated electricity
dropping by 12.86%.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released the "Monthly Energy
Review" on December 23, 2009. It can be found at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/contents.html.
The relevant tables from which the data above are extrapolated are
Tables 1.2 and 10.1. EIA released its most recent "Electric Power
Monthly" on December 16, 2009; see: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm_sum.html.
The most relevant charts are Tables 1.1 and 1.1.A
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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.
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