The New Energy Revolution

The US Underwent a Quiet Clean Energy Revolution Last Year

Emily Kaldjian and Priya Barua, January 23, 2019 (World Resources Institute)

“…[T]he United States saw unprecedented growth in renewable energy purchasing, development and commitments last year…U.S. corporations have spurred a global movement towards purchasing renewable energy over the last decade, and 2018 was a banner year. Companies in the United States purchased a record 6.43 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power, enough to power more than 1.5 million American homes each year and more than double the previous record of 3.22 GW in 2015. The number of corporations entering in to renewable energy deals for the first time doubled…[T]here are 53 Fortune 500 companies with 100 percent renewable energy goals; there were 23 companies with the same target in January 2017… As of November 2018, 99 U.S. cities have committed to 100 percent renewable energy, up from just 50 cities a year ago…

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…[Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Maine and Nevada gubernatorial candidates who ran on ambitious renewable platforms were victorious in the midterm elections…U.S. utilities are responding to this increased demand…Michigan-based utility Consumers Energy announced in February 2018 that it will cut carbon emissions by 80 percent and stop using coal, as well as produce 40 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2040…[In May, Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy] announced that it will become the first U.S. utility to source 100 percent of its customers' electricity needs from renewable energy upon the 2020 completion of a new wind farm. In December, Xcel Energy, one of the biggest utilities in the United States, became the first to commit to go completely carbon-free by 2050 (and 80 percent carbon-free by 2030)…A review of Midwestern investor-owned utilities found that 75 percent of them had made these pledges…” click here for more

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