Renewables = 13.6% of US electricity in October

To supplement our monthly US renewable energy capacity report, which is always a lot more upbeat than our electricity generation report, here’s the October electricity generation breakdown. Renewables were up to 13.6% of US electricity generation in October, and 13.2% for the year through November. Unfortunately, that’s slightly down from 13.3% in 2014 for the same period, due to a significant drop in hydroelectric generation and a significant rise in natural gas electricity generation.

Wind electricity generation was up 2,831 GWh in 2015 compared to 2014 (January through October) and solar electricity generation was up 9,956 GWh, but hydroelectric generation was down 9,975 GWh. 

 

Meanwhile, despite coal electricity generation being down 159,416 GWh, natural gas electricity generation was up 170,134 GWh. Ironically, the drop in hydro generation and filling in by natural gas generation is largely due to drought that has at least some of its roots in global warming.

So, despite 100% of new power capacity in October being from renewables, and 70% for January through October, renewables are still under 15% of electricity generation in the country. Will we be able to hit 15% in 2016?

For more details, here are charts and tables, and the source data all come from the EIA:

Related:

http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/02/renewables-provide-13-6-of-us-electricity-in-october/