Renewables Account for 46% New US Electrical Generating Capacity Since January

By Kenneth Bossong, SUN DAY Campaign
December 4, 2012  

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects states that renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) accounted for 41.14% of new electrical generating capacity installed in October 2012 and 46.22% for the first ten months of 2012.

According to the report, in October, ten new wind power projects (594 MW) came on line as well as three biomass projects (69 MW), 10 solar projects (59 MW), and one water power project (5 MW).

During the first ten months of 2012, 92 wind projects (5,403 MW), 167 solar projects (1,032 MW), 79 biomass projects (409 MW), seven geothermal projects (123 MW), and 9 water power projects (12 MW) have come on-line. Collectively, these total 6,979 MW or 46.22% of all new generating capacity added since the beginning of the year.

By comparison, new natural gas capacity additions since January 1, 2012 totaled 67 projects (5,702 MW) or 37.8% while three new coal projects added 2,276 MW (15.1%). Nuclear and oil represented just 0.8% and 0.1% of new capacity additions respectively.

The new renewable energy generating capacity added in 2012 represents a 47.7% increase over the level recorded for the same period in 2011. Renewable sources now account for 14.93% of total installed U.S. operating generating capacity — more than nuclear (9.27%) and oil (4.32%) combined.