Wind, natural gas & solar all had a big 2015
Renewable energy sources come up big in 2015
Nearly 100 percent of new electricity generation in the United States came from one of three sources in 2015 – wind energy, solar energy or natural gas.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), those three energy sources accounted for 97 percent of new electricity production last year. Solar and wind together accounted for two-thirds of new electricity in the U.S.
#Wind adds the most electric generation capacity in 2015, followed by #natgas and #solar https://t.co/gdplf88CRP pic.twitter.com/qAHCHSJSXg
— EIA (@EIAgov) March 23, 2016
Significant yearly increase in wind generation
Wind energy led the way, accounting for 41 percent of new electricity. Total output from new wind installations nearly doubled year-over-year (2014 to 2015), after more than quadrupling on yearly basis the previous year, from 2013 to 2014.
According to the EIA, Texas added the most new wind power in 2015, followed by Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, and North Dakota.
FACT: In 2015, more #solar was added to rooftops than ever before ☀️ https://t.co/5rCkDDZ7I2 @EIAGov #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/YKbiOKTf4A
— Energy Department (@ENERGY) March 25, 2016
Big gains in residential solar
EIA data revealed that more solar capacity was added on rooftops across the U.S. than ever before. Nevada led the way in residential solar growth, but that state’s spot atop the charts may not last long after recent changes to net metering laws may compel homeowners to look to other energy sources.
Overall, solar energy accounted for 26 percent of new electricity generation in the U.S. last year.
#Natgas generation capacity additions by year https://t.co/bOp7EUXbZV #EIAGraphs pic.twitter.com/Esx8OCanGX
— EIA (@EIAgov) March 23, 2016
And natural gas, too
Natural gas sources made up 30 percent of new electricity in 2015, the EIA noted. Two states — New Jersey and Texas — accounted for nearly half of all new natural gas production.
More of the same
The EIA said to expect more of the same from the trio of sources in 2016. Earlier this month, the energy agency published estimates for 2016, with breakdowns by source.
Orginally published on → E-Wisdom
