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Wind and solar resources provided 93.84% of new generating capacity added in the US in the first trimester of 2021.
- Utility-scale renewable energy facilities now account for 24.77% of all available installed generation capacity.
- The wind is now more than a tenth (10.24%) of the U.S.’ total generation capacity.
According to data from the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), wind and solar resources provided almost all (93.84%) of the new generating capacity added in the US in the first trimester of 2021.
FERC’s latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report shows that 18 “units” of new wind (3,802 MW) and 131 units of new utility-scale solar (2,702 MW) accounted for most of the capacity added during the first four months of the year. In addition, natural gas provided 402 MW, hydropower added 14 MW, oil provided 6 MW, and biomass added 5 MW. In April, only 1 MW of the new utility-scale capacity was from a source other than wind (659 MW) and solar (147 MW).
Utility-scale renewable energy facilities now account for 24.77% of the country’s total available installed generating capacity, increasing their lea over coal (19.28%), nuclear power (8.21%), and oil (3.14%). In addition, wind generation is now more than a tenth (10.24%) of the U.S.’ total generation capacity.
Wind and solar are forecast to provide nearly four times more new generating capacity than natural gas over the next three years. Utility-scale solar alone will provide more than twice as much net new capacity as natural gas.