Solar and Wind Energy Surge in 2024, Outpacing Other Energy Sources

Solar energy’s robust growth is attributed to both utility-scale and rooftop installations. Utility-scale solar installations surged by 30.1%, while small-scale installations, primarily rooftop systems, grew by 16.2%. Together, these solar sources contributed over 7% to the total US electricity generation for the year, a notable increase from previous figures.

The growth trend continued into September, with utility-scale solar increasing by 29% and rooftop solar by 14.2% compared to September 2023. In that month alone, solar power accounted for 7.5% of the nation’s total electricity output. Small-scale solar, which makes up nearly 30% of all solar generation, has proven especially significant, providing 2% of the country’s total electricity and outpacing traditional sources like utility-scale biomass and geothermal power.

Wind energy also displayed a strong performance, with a 6.6% increase in output from January to September 2024. It remains the top renewable source, contributing 9.9% to the US electricity generation during this period.

Overall, renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, provided 24% of the US’s electricity from January to September 2024, an increase from 22.8% over the same period last year. This growth rate of 8.6% for renewables outstripped that of natural gas and was almost seven times higher than nuclear power’s growth.

With renewables now making up a quarter of the national electricity mix, any policy shifts under the new administration could significantly impact the sector’s trajectory and the broader energy landscape.

Please sign this petition to Urge the Senate to Reject Chris Wright’s Appointment as Secretary of Energy!

Related Content:

• India’s Record-Breaking Push for Solar and Wind Energy
• New York’s Transport Rules Block Progress on Wind Energy Goals
• Britain Potentially Offering Free Electricity as Wind Power Surges
• China Sets New Benchmark with World’s Largest Offshore Solar Farm
• Space Solar Project Plans to Beam Power to Iceland by 2030

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!