New Energy Was 100% of U.S. New Generation In April

Latest Ferc Data Show Renewables Are Sole Source Of New U.S. Generating Capacity In April; Renewables Are 56.3% Of New Capacity In 1st Third Of 2020; Over The Next Three Years, Renewables Will Add Over 53,000-Mw Of New Capacity; Wind And Solar Will Each Provide More New Capacity Than Natural Gas

Ken Bossong, June 8, 2020 (Sun Day)

“…[W]ind, solar, and hydropower provided 100% of the 1,328 megawatts (MW) in new U.S. electrical generating capacity added in April 2020…[and] renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) have accounted for 5,113 MW - or 56.3% - of the 9,082 MW added during the first four months of this year [according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)]…FERC also reported 3,964 MW (or 21 units) of new natural gas capacity, which accounted for most of the balance. There have been no new capacity additions by coal, oil, nuclear power, or geothermal energy since the beginning of the year…Renewable energy sources now account for 22.87% of the nation’s total available installed generating capacity and continue to expand their lead over coal (20.32%)…

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[F]ive years ago, FERC reported that total installed renewable energy generating capacity was 17.05% of the nation's total with wind at 5.74% (now 9.08%) and solar at 1.05% (now 3.79%)…[C]oal's share was 27.50% (now 20.32%), nuclear was 9.14% (now 8.71%), and oil was 3.92% (now 3.29%)…[Only natural gas expanded, from 42.23%] to 44.64% today…[By April 2023, wind] is expected to have] a projected net increase of 26,867 MW while solar is foreseen growing by 24,083 MW…[N]et growth for natural gas will be only 20,657 MW…[A]ll renewables will add more than 53 gigawatts (GW) of net new generating capacity…That is nearly 50 times the net new capacity (1.1 GW) projected to be added by natural gas, coal, oil, and nuclear power combined…[and]renewable energy generating capacity should account for more than a quarter of the nation's total available installed generating capacity…” click here for more

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