Renewable Energy Provides More Than 25% of US Power
WASHINGTON — Energy from renewable resources, including the sun, wind and heat trapped under the ground provided more than 25% of the nation’s power during the first six months of 2022, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday.
At the same time, the agency’s “Electric Power Monthly” report found that the electrical output from renewable energy sources jumped by nearly one-fifth — 18.75% — compared with the same period a year earlier.
In terms of specific energy resources, electrical generation from wind increased by 24.67% during the first six months of 2022, and generation from solar resources grew by 27.72%.
Taken together, renewable energy sources comfortably out-produced both coal and nuclear power by 28.76% and 38.81%, respectively.
Agency officials project renewable energy sources will provide 22% of U.S. electrical output this year. Including power generated by residential solar, renewables actually provided 22.3% in 2021 and 24.4% in the first quarter of 2022.
At this year’s half-way point, renewables have already surpassed 25% — surpassing EIA’s yearly projections already.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
