RENEWABLE SOURCES SOAR TO OVER 11% OF U.S. ENERGY PRODUCTION; NOW PROVIDING MORE ENERGY THAN NUCLEAR POWER

Jul 29, 2009 - Ken Bossong - Sun Day Campaign

Washington DC -- According to the latest issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, production of renewable energy for the first third of 2009 (i.e., January 1 – April 30) was six percent higher compared to the same time period in 2008. Moreover, renewable energy accounted for 11.1 percent of domestic energy production in April 2009 and exceeded the amount contributed by nuclear power.

More specifically, total domestic energy production for the first four months of 2009 totaled 24.394 quadrillion Btu’s (quads) of which renewable sources (biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, water) accounted for 2.512 quads. In April 2009 alone, total energy production was 5.980 quads with .664 quads (11.1%) coming from renewable sources; nuclear power provided .620 quads (10.4%).

For the first four months of 2009, U.S. renewable energy production was comprised of hydropower (34.6%), wood + wood wastes (31.2%), biofuels (19.0%), wind (9.3%), geothermal (4.7%), and solar (1.2%). Most of these sources grew compared to the first third of 2008 with wind expanding by 34.5%, biofuels by 14.1%, hydropower by 8.2%, and geothermal by 2.6%. The contribution from solar sources remained essentially unchanged while wood + wood waste declined by 4.9%.

Total U.S. energy consumption dropped 5.7% during the first four months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 with fossil fuel use accounting for most of the decline.

“As Congress continues to debate energy and climate legislation, it would do well to take note of the clear trend in the nation’s energy mix,” said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “Fossil fuel use is dropping sharply and nuclear power is barely holding on to its market share while the mix of renewable energy sources continues month-after-month to set ever-higher records.”

The U.S. Energy Information Administration released the "Monthly Energy Review" on July 28, 2009. It can be found at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/contents.html. The relevant tables from which the above data are extrapolated are Tables 1.1, 1.2, and 10.1

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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.