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Apr. 3, 2012, Washington, DC - According to the most recent issue of the “Monthly Energy Review” by
the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through
December 31, 2011, renewable energy sources expanded rapidly during the
first three years of the Obama Administration while substantially
outpacing the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
According to the report, between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011, renewable energy
sources (i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) grew
by 27.12%. By comparison, during the same three-year period, total
domestic energy production increased by just 6.72% with natural gas and
crude oil production growing by 13.66% and 14.27% respectively. During the same period, nuclear power declined by 1.99% and
coal dropped by 7.16%.
Looking at all energy sectors (e.g., electricity, transportation,
thermal), renewable energy sources accounted for 11.74% of domestic
energy production in 2011 – compared to 9.85% in 2008. In fact,
renewable energy sources provided 10.90% more energy in 2011 than did
nuclear power, although nuclear still provides a larger share of the
nation’s electricity. (On the consumption side, which includes oil and
other energy imports, renewable sources accounted for 9.29% of total
U.S. energy use during 2011.)
For more information, please visit the report website here.
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