The latest figures from the Energy Information Administration  
show that net U.S. electrical generation from renewable energy
sources (biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) reached an
all-time monthly high in May 2009. Combined, those sources
accounted for 13 percent of total electrical generation in the
U.S., according to recent analysis from the Washington, D.C.-
based Sun Day Campaign.
 
More specifically, Sun Day reports that renewable sources
generated 40,395,000 megawatt-hours (Mwh) of electricity in
May 2009 (the latest month for which EIA has compiled and
released data). That level is 7.7 percent higher than that
produced in May 2008 (37,515,000 Mwh) and appears to be
the highest monthly figure ever reported by EIA for renewably-
generated electricity.

Total net electrical generation in May 2009 from all sources,
including renewables, fossil fuels, and nuclear, was
311,411,000 Mwh – a drop of 4.1 percent from the
324,589,000 Mwh generated in May 2008.

 
The 13 percent share of U.S. net electrical generation provided
by renewable sources in May 2009 consists of 9.4 percent
from conventional hydropower and 3.6 percent from non-hydro
renewables. The latter figure includes approximately 1.8 percent
from wind, 1.3 percent from biomass, 0.4 percent from
geothermal, and 0.3 from solar thermal and photovoltaics (totals
do not exactly equal due to rounding).

 
Comparing the month of May 2009 to the month of May 2008,
net electrical generation from wind sources increased by 12.5
percent; higher wind generation totals in the state of Iowa
accounted for 52.2 percent of the national increase. This large
increase occurred as 11 new Iowa wind farms began generating
electricity at the end of 2008. Conventional hydropower
increased by 10.2 percent, reflecting an increase in generation
of 2,705,000 Mwh. Solar thermal and photovoltaics combined increased by 3.5 percent.

 
On the other hand, coal dropped by 14.8 percent, petroleum
liquids by 8.3 percent and nuclear by 0.6 percent. Natural gas
expanded by 10.6 percent.

 
“Month-after-month, the U.S. government’s own numbers
refute those attempting to dismiss or belittle the rapidly
expanding role being played by renewable energy sources in the
nation’s electricity supply,” said Ken Bossong, Executive
Director of the Sun Day Campaign. “Moreover, non-hydro
renewables are already well beyond the levels of the Renewable
Electricity Standard proposed in energy legislation now being
considered by before the U.S. Senate, which calls for just 3
percent renewables by 2013.”

 
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2009, all renewable
energy sources combined accounted for 9.6 percent of net U.S.
electrical generation with conventional hydropower accounting
for 6.4 percent and non-hydro renewables accounting for the
other 3.2 percent. By comparison, for the 12-month period
ending May 31, 2008, the corresponding numbers were 8.4
percent, 5.7 percent, and 2.7 percent.
 
Washington, D.C. United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]