Renewable & Alternative Fuels
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EIA's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook for renewables ›
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Drought increases price of corn, reduces profits to ethanol producers ›
EIA's monthly biodiesel statistics ›
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Data for 2010 ›
U.S. renewable electricity capacity and generation ›
Energy In Brief Articles
How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?
U.S. power plants used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), wood, wind, organic waste, geothermal, and sun — to generate about 13% of our electricity in 2011.
What are renewable portfolio standards and how do they affect generation of electricity from renewable sources?
Renewable portfolio standards are policies designed to increase electricity generation from renewable resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. Many States have their own renewable portfolio standards, although currently there is no program at the National level. States with renewable portfolio programs have seen an increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable fuels.
How much of the world's electricity supply is generated from wind?
Worldwide wind power generation exceeded 250 billion kilowatthours in 2009, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 22 million average households in the United States. Wind generation increased by about 20% from 2008 to 2009, and has more than tripled since 2004. This growth is mostly due to capacity increases in the United States, China, India, and Western Europe.
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Renewable Energy Explained
What is renewable energy?
Unlike fossil fuels, which are exhaustible, renewable energy sources regenerate and can be sustained indefinitely. The five renewable sources used most often are biomass, water (hydropower), geothermal, wind, and solar.
Renewable energy incentives
Investment in and use of renewable energy is both encouraged and required by a range of state and federal government incentives and legislation.
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Features
Short-Term Energy Outlook
Released September 11, 2012 | Next Release: October 10, 2012
EIA's monthly energy projections through 2013. Includes projections for renewable energy supply, electricity generation from renewable sources.
Monthly Biodiesel Production Report
Released August 30, 2012
The Monthly Biodiesel Production Report provides data on operations of the U.S. biodiesel industry.
Biodiesel and fuel ethanol statistics
Released August 29, 2012
The most recent monthly and annual overview statistics for fuel ethanol and biodiesel, published in the Monthly Energy Review.
Solar Photovoltaic Cell/Module Module Shipments Report 2010
Released January 30, 2012
Despite a sluggish U.S. economy in 2010, the U.S. photovoltaic (PV) industry saw strong growth. Total shipments of PV modules in 2010 more than doubled compared to total module shipments in 2009.
What's New in Renewable & Alternative Fuels
Monthly Biodiesel Production Report
August 30, 2012
What is the role of hydroelectric power in the United States?
August 29, 2012
How much of our electricity is generated from renewable energy?
May 18, 2012
Survey Forms, Changes & Announcements
Renewable and Alternate Fuels Survey Forms and Instructions ›