Renewables Grow 12.4% in Q109

Even with the difficult market conditions confronting the renewable energy industry this year, the sector grew 12.4% in the first quarter – renewables now supply over 3.9% of U.S. electricity (excluding conventional hydro). Net electrical generation in the U.S. dropped 4.3% from March 2008 to March 2009, the eighth consecutive month that net generation was down compared to the same calendar month in the prior year, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest "Electric Power Monthly" report. Year over year, coal-fired generation dropped 15.3%, conventional hydro grew 1.1%, geothermal increased 1.7% and wind grew 38.5%. Conventional hydro supplied 6.5% of total U.S. electrical generation in March 2009, while renewables generated 3.9%. Renewable sources of electricity continued to enjoy double-digit growth during the past year. By comparison, coal and natural gas use plummeted while nuclear remained flat. "Apologists for the nuclear and fossil fuel industries persist in trying to mislead the public by repeatedly spreading the myth that renewables account for only a tiny fraction of U.S. electricity production," says Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. "However, the hard numbers document the continuing dramatic growth in renewable energy’s already-significant contribution to the nation’s electricity supply – a […]

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