WASHINGTON, D.C.—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 percent of net U.S. electricity generation in June 2008 compared to 8.6 percent in June 2007.
Compared to June 2007, wind power grew by 81.6 percent in June 2008 while solar and conventional hydropower experienced increases of 42.6 percent and 34.7 percent respectively. Geothermal energy also enjoyed a slight increase (0.8 percent) while biomass (wood + waste) remained relatively unchanged.
Renewable energy sources now account for 37 percent 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 account for just under 3 percent of total net U.S. electricity generation.
Nuclear Percentage Decreases
By comparison, nuclear power’s share of total net U.S. electricity generation dipped from 19.0 percent in June 2007 to 18.8 percent in June 2008. Total U.S. net electricity generation increased by 2.9 percent 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 dizzingly 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.”
Click here to see the complete Energy Information Administration report.
