Tag: Renewable Energy

Renewables Surpassed Coal & Nuclear for First Time in 2022

Since 2007, the use of coal for electricity generation has generally been in decline, while the use of renewables has been on the rise. Electricity generation from nuclear had remained relatively flat over the last two decades but has experienced a slight decline in recent years. In 2022, net generation of electricity from renewables reached 0.91 billion megawatt-hours, topping both coal and nuclear (0.83 and 0.77 billion megawatt-hours, respectively). In 2022, renewables accounted for about 21% of all net generation of electricity.

Notes:

Renewable sources of power include wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal energy. “Other” category includes petroleum liquids, petroleum coke, batteries, chemicals, hydrogen, pitch, purchased steam, sulfur, miscellaneous technologies, and electricity generated from non-renewable waste.

Electricity net generation is the amount of gross electricity a generator produces minus the electricity used to operate the power plant.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Don’t Miss This Important Documentary on Solar PV

We watched this program when it aired on PBS a few weeks ago, but I’ve registered for an online screening this Thursday, Dec. 10th, 7 to 10 pm, because it will include a post-screening panel discussion about the topic of roof-top and community solar programs, which are under attack by utilities in different states. Here in Colorado, we’re blessed with a government which is supportive of clean energy, but that’s not the case everywhere, and there is always the risk that a less friendly government on the state or federal level could frustrate the goal of moving away from an economy based on fossil fuels and to an economy based on clean, renewable energy. Click here to register for it on Eventbrite.com.