NEW ENERGY BIGGER THAN NUKES

EIA data shows U.S. production of renewable energy greater than nuclear power
October 3, 2011 (Electric Light & Power)

"…[R]enewable energy has passed another milestone as domestic production is now greater than that of nuclear power and continues to close in on oil…During the first half of 2011, renewable energy sources (biomass & biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, wind) provided 4.687 quadrillion BTUs of energy or 12.25 percent of U.S. energy production.

"By comparison, renewables accounted for 11.05 percent of domestic production during the first half of 2010 and 10.50 percent during the first half of 2009. (On the consumption side, which includes oil and other energy imports, renewable sources accounted for 9.45 percent of total U.S. energy use.)"

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"Energy production from renewable energy sources in 2011 was 17.91 percent more than that from nuclear power, which provided 3.975 quadrillion BTUs and has been declining in recent years. Energy from renewable sources is now equal to 79.83 percent of that from domestic crude oil production, with the gap closing rapidly…

"Looking at just the electricity sector…for the first half of 2011, renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) accounted for 13.97 percent of net U.S. electrical generation — up 26.14 percent from the same period in 2010…[N]uclear power's contribution to net U.S. electrical generation totaled 19.12 percent representing a decline of 3.8 percent compared to the first half of 2010 and a drop of over 5 percent compared to the first half of 2009…[C]oal-generated electricity also dipped by 4.8 percent from its mid-year 2010 level…[N]atural gas increased by 2.4 percent."