According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the EIA expects nearly 32 gigawatts (GW) of new electric generating capacity to come online in the U.S. in 2018. This is more than any other year in the past decade. Of that, renewables such as solar, wind, and biomass energy accounted for 98% of the two GW added so far this year.

In 2017, renewables accounted for 55% of the 21 GW of U.S. capacity additions, which was the fourth consecutive year that this hoccurred in the U.S. The EIA also found that in February of this year renewables accounted for 22% of the total currently operating U.S. electricity generating capacity. 

The newly added capacity which was accounted for by the EIA in January and February of this year included over 2,000 megawatts (MW) of renewables, compared to 27 MW of fossil fuel generators, and 28 MW of other technologies involving battery stored energy.

February of this year also saw for the first time in several decades, that the new generating capacity coming online in the United States were non-fossil fueled capacity sources. With the cost effectiveness and strength of renewable energy, and its increase of use in the total capacity of generation accounted for in the U.S., it does not appear there will be any decrease in the need or development for solar, wind, or biomass projects in the coming future. 

For more information, please contact Mike Mentel or a member of Taft’s Environmental practice group.