Michael Long
Jul 26, 2017 · 2 min read

I’m glad you provided the numbers for wind and solar for 2014 (three years ago) as it provides a baseline for comparision and shows just how far we’ve come in such a short period of time.

“Wind and solar together crossed the 10 percent mark of total U.S. electricity production in March [2017], reports the Energy Information Administration. That’s the first time they’ve reached double-digit market share for a month, marking an important milestone in the growth of renewables nationwide.”

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=31632

Include hydro, as mentioned, and that brings the total up to 16%.

In 2016, wind supplied 5.6 percent of generation, utility-scale solar contributed 0.9 percent, and small-scale solar about 0.5 percent, for a cumulative total of 7 percent.”

“Solar installations nearly doubled in 2016 compared to the year before. Wind and solar collectively accounted for more than 60 percent of new generating capacity added in 2016, with 8.7 gigawatts and 7.7 gigawatts, respectively.”

That’s a 50% increase in wind production is just 2 years, and nearly a 100% increase in solar over the same period of time.

And in individual states, renewables are well past the 10% number. Iowa, for example, leads with 37 percent generation from wind.

I might also mention that demand in the US, as mentioned in the original article, has not kept pace with the quoted EIA forecast made back in 2009 (8 years ago) and has nearly flatlinned. As the article mentions, this is largely because of improvements in efficiency of applicances and the move from incandescents lighting to fluorescents and leds.

And just for fun: “Germany in March covered 41.1% of its power generation from renewables.”

So apparently large scale use of renewables can be done.

And if you’re going to quote “facts” to back up your arguments, you might at least hunt for current ones.

    Michael Long

    Written by

    Michael Long is a Senior Lead iOS engineer at CRi Solutions, a leader in cutting edge iOS, Android, and mobile corporate and financial applications.

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