U.S. Wind and Solar Power has Surpassed Nuclear Power for the First Time

This is the first time in U.S. history that wind and solar power has surpassed nuclear power. It is reported that the country generated 17.96% more wind and solar power than nuclear power plants in April. In addition, electricity generation from clean energy sources — including biomass, geothermal and hydropower and driven by strong growth in solar and wind power — accounted for 7% in April, according to a SUN DAY campaign analysis of newly released U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Nearly 30% of total U.S. electricity generation.

From January to April 2022, clean energy will account for more than 25% of electricity in the United States.

The EIA’s latest “Electricity Monthly Report”, data as of April 30, 2022, also reflects a year-on-year percentage change of 28.9% for solar (including rooftops), while wind energy increased by 24.2%. Solar and wind combined grew 25.4% and accounted for more than one-sixth (16.6%) of U.S. electricity generation (12.2% for wind and 4.4% for solar). Actual figures are based on net electricity generation (gigawatt hours).

In the first four months of 2022, hydropower increased by 9.99%, but wind alone provided 70.89% more electricity than hydro.

And when it comes to fossil fuels, renewables outperform coal and nuclear by 26.13% and 37.8%, respectively, in the first three months of 2022. In fact, compared to the same period in 2021, electricity generation from coal fell by 3.9%, while nuclear fell by 1.8%.

Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY campaign, said: “Despite headwinds such as the Covid-19 pandemic, grid access issues and disruptions to global supply chains, solar and wind power continues to grow. Furthermore, they surpass nuclear power by a significant margin. .”