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Solar, wind energy lead in U.S. in September

By | October 24, 2012, 10:22 AM PDT

Solar and wind power accounted for all–that would be 100 percent–new electricity generating capacity added to the U.S. power grid in September.

Five wind projects totaling 300 megawatts and 18 solar installations totaling 133 megawatts were added in September, according to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Energy Infrastructure Update, which was initially reported by renewable energy analyst and SUN DAY Campaign executive director Kenneth Bossong.

This wasn’t an isolated event for either renewable energy source. Solar and wind, although still trailing fossil fuels, collectively account for 40 percent of all new generating capacity added since January 2012. Include other renewable energy sources in the mix, such as biomass, geothermal, waste heat and water, and that figures increase to 43.8 percent of all new generating capacity added since the beginning of the year.

Wind has done particularly well. More than 4,000 MW of wind capacity has been added to the U.S. power grid since January, outpacing installations of all other sources of electricity except natural gas, which had 4,587 MW of installed capacity over the same time period.

Solar has seen a rise U.S. electricity generation capacity as well, albeit on a much smaller scale compared to natural gas, coal, nuclear and wind. In the past nine months, 154 solar projects have added 936 MW of capacity.

Solar and wind still have a long way to go before either energy source takes over traditional fossil fuels. According to FERC, solar accounts for 0.31 percent and wind 4.43 percent of total installed operating generating capacity on the U.S. power grid.

Meanwhile, coal and natural gas still provide the greatest share of electricity to the grid. Coal has 338.98 gigawatts of installed capacity on the U.S. power grid, accounting for 29.4 percent. Natural gas has 483.92 GW of installed capacity, accounting for nearly 42 percent of total operating generating capacity.

Photo: SunEdison

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Kirsten Korosec

About Kirsten Korosec

Kirsten Korosec is a contributing editor for SmartPlanet.

Kirsten Korosec

Kirsten Korosec

Contributing Editor

Kirsten Korosec has written for Technology Review, Marketing News, The Hill, BNET and Bloomberg News. She holds a degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She is based in Tucson, Arizona.

Follow her on Twitter.

Kirsten Korosec

Kirsten Korosec

Kirsten does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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THE NEED FOR CLEAN ENERGY TAKES THE WORLD STAGE
THE NEED FOR CLEAN ENERGY TAKES THE WORLD STAGE

Any Government can point to other nations and say then are to blame for the down fall of a Industry. When the biggest factor in manufacturers going up or down is the NEED FOR IT and the tax put on them. Federal, State and City taxes can brake any one even a large Industry why do you think they are moving off shore or better know as going over seas.

Since are non Christian Leader obama has took office many USA Companies have moved some or all of their manufacturing overseas. The saving alone on their taxes makes it more then worth it and no Organized Crime Labor Union Bosses much lower wages.


GOD Bless all that look to Solar Energy

SOLAR ENERGY GIVING POWER TO ALL THE EARTH

LOOK TO...THE FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER.... FSEC
would be a good start for any Nation to look at the team and what they have been doing for many years at FSEC. FSEC Leading the way to the world in Renewable Energy.

Solar Energy Will very soon power most of all are needs on Earth.

There is more they enough energy coming from are SUN in the heavens above to power all are need and much more.

The fastest growing industries on Earth Renewable Energy with Solar leading the way.

The Lord's Little Helper
Paul Felix Schott
Posted by Paul Felix Schott
24th Oct
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