Wind Topped All New US Generation Capacity in 2012, Ahead of Gas and Coal [View all]

[kristopher]

Last edited Sat Mar 9, 2013, 08:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Wind Topped All New US Generation Capacity in 2012, Ahead of Gas and Coal
Record-breaking numbers at competitive prices

HERMAN K. TRABISH: FEBRUARY 7, 2013

With a Q4 installed capacity of 8,380 megawatts, the U.S. wind industry brought its 2012 total to 13,124 megawatts, shattering its 2009 record by 3,000 megawatts. With its record year, U.S. wind became the first renewable energy to lead the nation in annual new generation capacity, ahead of traditional electricity sources like natural gas, coal and nuclear, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Q4 2012 report.

Wind power was 42 percent of all new U.S. generation capacity built in 2012. Total new renewable capacity was over 55 percent of the nation’s build.

In Texas, which once again led the U.S. in cumulative, annual, and Q4 installed capacity, the Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT) released a report with some startling conclusions. ERCOT’s newest cost and output numbers showed wind and solar to be more competitive than natural gas over the next twenty years and serving to drive electricity market prices lower.

With its Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) transmission initiative about to be completed, this sets Texas up for a huge renewables future if its legislators and regulators choose to continue backing them.

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Read more at: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Wind-Topped-All-New-U.S.-Generation-Capacity-in-2012-Ahead-of-Gas-and-Coal?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=headline&utm_campaign=GTMDaily


ETA:
Wind, Solar, Biomass Provide All New U.S. Electrical Generating Capacity In January 2013
By Kenneth Bossong

According to the latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects, 1,231 MW of new in-service electrical generating capacity came on line in the United States in January 2013 — all from wind, solar, and biomass sources.

This represents a nearly three-fold increase in new renewable energy generating capacity compared to the same month in 2012 when wind, solar, and biomass provided 431 MW of new capacity.

Once again, renewable energy sources have dominated the new electrical generation market. And once again, their rapid expansion demonstrates that the U.S. can meet its future energy needs without resorting to dirtier sources such as nuclear power or the Keystone XL pipeline.

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*Note: Generating capacity is not the same as actual generation. Actual net electrical generation from renewable energy sources in the United States now totals about 13% according to data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/02/24/1631211/wind-solar-biomass-provide-all-new-us-electrical-generating-capacity-in-january-2013/