US Renewable Energy Production Surpasses Coal-Generated Electricity

Humans have Realized the payback value of climate change effects, so the world is transitioning towards renewable energy resources for power production.

According to a report released a few days ago by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the power produced by renewable energy sources, mainly wind and solar, will surpass coal-generated electricity in the United States for the first time in 2022.

The received data shows a significant drop in coal-fired electricity production from 23% of total generation in 2021 to 20% in 2022. Meanwhile, the combined electricity generation by solar and wind will rise from 12% in 2021 to 14% in 2022.

However, the power produced by other renewable sources, such as geothermal, biomass, and hydropower, didn’t get change between 2021 and 2022.

It’s good news that less coal is used, reducing emissions and pollution. But not all fossil fuel-based energy sources experienced a reduction.

According to the EIA data, natural gas continued to be the dominant source of energy generation in the US, rising from 37% in 2021 to 39% in 2022.

Whereas, The EIA predicts that the coal-based power produced will continue to fall this year, and the amount of power produced by solar energy will rise in 2023.

The CEO of the American Council said over the past decade, the cost of solar power has decreased by 90%, and the cost of wind energy has decreased by 70%.