Nearly 500 megawatts of new electrical generating capacity was added in the U.S. in September, and ALL of it was from renewable sources. This is the first time in U.S. history that wind and solar have accounted for all of the capacity brought online in a month.
Overall, it’s been a very good year for renewables. This year, 44% of all new generating capacity came from wind and solar, while new natural gas capacity accounted for 37% and coal just 18%.
According to Clean Edge News, the new renewable projects brought online in September consisted of five wind projects totaling 300 MW and 18 solar projects totaling 133 MW. Renewable energy sources now account for almost 15% of all installed U.S. electrical generating capacity. Could it be that coal really is a “dead man walking”?