The amount of U.S. renewable energy grew during the first 10 months of 2017 while electricity generation from fossil fuels and nuclear power declined, according to a new analysis from the SUN DAY Campaign.
Citing the latest issue of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through Oct. 31), the group says U.S. renewables increased by 14.6% during the first 10 months of this year compared to the same period in 2016 and provided 17.7% of the nation’s electrical generation.
For the first time, solar has topped 2.0% of U.S. electrical output while wind exceeded 6.0%, reaching 6.14%, according to the SUN DAY Campaign. Hydropower accounted for 7.6% of total generation while biomass contributed 1.6% and geothermal 0.4%.
Thus, the group notes, solar and wind combined now account for a greater share of U.S. electrical generation than hydropower.
According to the group, U.S. electrical production by all renewable energy sources grew during the first 10 months of 2017, with solar up by 43.3%, hydroelectric by 13.8%, wind by 12.6%, biomass by 2.2%, and geothermal by 1.9%.
By comparison, electrical generation by oil dropped by 15.9%, natural gas by 9.4%, coal by 2.3%, and nuclear power by 0.6%, the SUN DAY Campaign concludes.
