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burfman

(264 posts)
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 06:50 AM Jun 2017

U.S. Reports a Major Milestone in Wind and Solar Power

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Scientific American

Ten percent of all of the electricity generated in the U.S. in March came from wind and solar power, marking the first such milestone in U.S. history, according to a new U.S. Energy Information Administration report.

The EIA estimates that wind and solar farms likely generated 10 percent of America’s electricity in April as well, which would be another first, according to the report.

This year’s milestone shows that renewables are becoming a major source of electricity in the U.S. and can no longer be considered “alternative” energy, said Christopher Clack, CEO of the power grid modeling firm Vibrant Clean Energy and a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researcher.

The report’s findings represent a marked increased from March 2016, when wind and solar generated 8.6 percent of total U.S. electricity. Overall, about 7 percent of U.S. electricity comes from wind and solar annually, up from less than 1 percent a decade ago. Texas is the country’s biggest wind power producer and California is the largest solar producer.

Read more: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-reports-a-major-milestone-in-wind-and-solar-power/



Looks like our electricity production is getting greener in a measurable way.
I'm expecting the trend to continue regardless of what this administration does.

burfman......

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
U.S. Reports a Major Milestone in Wind and Solar Power (Original Post) burfman Jun 2017 OP
"We will put a stop to this." - republicans Achilleaze Jun 2017 #1
We have this good news and the keys to many of our problems nolabels Jun 2017 #2
We should have started this forty years ago when Jimmy Carter said to! csziggy Jun 2017 #9
Not to worry edhopper Jun 2017 #3
The economics will drive the adoption of green energy now more than laws FLPanhandle Jun 2017 #4
No new coal fired plants zipplewrath Jun 2017 #10
Guess that's why Rick Perry is determined to stop it. sinkingfeeling Jun 2017 #5
But Clean Coal! But Oil! Drill baby drill!!! winstars Jun 2017 #6
Conservative infected Kansas will produce ONE THIRD of our energy Bengus81 Jun 2017 #7
"Texas is the countrys biggest wind power producer..." Grins Jun 2017 #8
Locking - this is from 3 days ago muriel_volestrangler Jun 2017 #11

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
1. "We will put a stop to this." - republicans
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 07:21 AM
Jun 2017

nolabels

(13,133 posts)
2. We have this good news and the keys to many of our problems
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 07:28 AM
Jun 2017

All we have to do is jump on and turn it and mostly those dead dinosaurs will again be buried

csziggy

(34,139 posts)
9. We should have started this forty years ago when Jimmy Carter said to!
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:43 AM
Jun 2017

But then we got Ronald Reagan and Carter's plan to make the US energy independent went down the tubes. Oh well - here is a complement to your video:

edhopper

(33,651 posts)
3. Not to worry
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:22 AM
Jun 2017

Rick Perry will disassemble the clean energy industry in this country.

We will be polluting for the foreseeable future.

FLPanhandle

(7,107 posts)
4. The economics will drive the adoption of green energy now more than laws
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:31 AM
Jun 2017

It's gotten to the point where alternative energy is competitive with older sources of energy. We are at a tipping point and no matter what Trump does, the US is moving to green sources of energy.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
10. No new coal fired plants
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:44 AM
Jun 2017

I've heard more than one industry executive state that the US won't build any more coal fired electric plants because the economics just aren't there. I've also heard that wind mills are becoming popular in some parts of "middle america" because you can turn 2 acres into as much profit as 10 acres of any crop. A rather conservative neighbor installed solar panels and hasn't paid an electric bill in 9 months. I can see the day when house construction will include solar panels as part of the standard build, a bit like air conditioning. It's changing, and not because of any government agency or politician. They can help or hinder, but they can't stop it.

sinkingfeeling

(51,487 posts)
5. Guess that's why Rick Perry is determined to stop it.
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:31 AM
Jun 2017

winstars

(4,220 posts)
6. But Clean Coal! But Oil! Drill baby drill!!!
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:32 AM
Jun 2017

Bengus81

(6,936 posts)
7. Conservative infected Kansas will produce ONE THIRD of our energy
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:33 AM
Jun 2017

from wind,solar and a nuke plant by the end of 2017. It wasn't that many years ago there wasn't a wind generator to be found in this entire State let alone a commercial solar panel.

To bad coal......

Grins

(7,257 posts)
8. "Texas is the countrys biggest wind power producer..."
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:42 AM
Jun 2017

Texas? Rick Perry, Ted Cruz's Texas?

muriel_volestrangler

(101,403 posts)
11. Locking - this is from 3 days ago
Mon Jun 19, 2017, 08:46 AM
Jun 2017

"By Bobby Magill, Climate Central on June 16, 2017"

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