Renewable & Alternative Fuels

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Renewable generation capacity expected to account for most 2016 capacity additions

capacity electric generation electricity solar wind

New EIA survey collects data on production and sales of wood pellets

biomass production/supply wood

EIA forecasts continued biomass-based diesel growth due to final 2017 RFS targets

RFS STEO biofuels ethanol gasoline

EIA adds population density layers to U.S. Energy Mapping System

electricity natural gas oil/petroleum

About 30% of distributed solar capacity is owned by third parties

electricity generation solar states

Federal leasing for offshore wind grows as first U.S. offshore wind farm comes online

electricity offshore wind

Natural gas generation and electricity imports used to follow load in California

California electricity natural gas nuclear solar wind

California is using more renewables and less natural gas in its summer electricity mix

California electricity generation

District of Columbia raises renewable portfolio standard target to 50% by 2032

RPS electricity electricity generating fuel mix

Monthly U.S. renewable electricity generation in 2016 surpasses previous years

capacity electricity generation hydroelectric solar wind

North Carolina has more PURPA-qualifying solar facilities than any other state

California Texas capacity electricity generating capacity generation solar states

Hydroelectric plants account for more than 70% of Brazil's electric generation

Brazil electricity generation hydroelectric

U.S. ethanol plant capacity increases for third consecutive year

ethanol production/supply

Renewables share of North America electricity mix expected to rise

AEO AEO2016 Canada IEO Mexico United States electricity generation international nuclear standards

Changing U.S. energy mix reflects growing use of natural gas, petroleum, and renewables

coal exports/imports liquid fuels natural gas nuclear oil/petroleum

Several nonpowered dams along the Ohio River to be converted to hydroelectric dams in 2016

electricity generating capacity hydroelectric

Clean Power Plan implementation choices by states could affect electricity generation mix

AEO AEO2016 CO2 coal electricity electricity generating fuel mix energy efficiency forecasts/projections natural gas solar wind

Mexico electricity market reforms attempt to reduce costs and develop new capacity

Mexico electricity generation international policy prices wholesale prices

Fossil fuels still dominate U.S. energy consumption despite recent market share decline

biomass coal exports/imports hydroelectric liquid fuels natural gas nuclear oil/petroleum

Extended policies case shows reduced energy use, emissions, more renewables, efficiency

AEO AEO2016 efficiency electricity emissions forecasts/projections solar standards wind

Recent data show divergent trends for rail shipments of crude oil, ethanol, and biodiesel

biofuels crude oil ethanol liquid fuels rail

Southern states lead growth in biomass electricity generation

biomass electricity generation

Higher Oregon renewable portfolio standard targets likely to boost wind power

Oregon RPS electricity generating capacity states wind

U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports increase 61% in 2015

LCFS biofuels diesel exports/imports standards

Nonhydro renewable power generation widened gap over conventional hydroelectricity in 2015

biomass electric generation electricity generation geothermal solar wind

EIA reviews and enhances data and projections for wind and solar electricity

electricity forecasts/projections generating capacity generation solar wind

U.S. ethanol exports reach highest level since 2011

RFS biofuels ethanol exports/imports

Crescent Dunes concentrating solar plant begins producing electricity

California electricity solar states

Solar, natural gas, wind make up most 2016 generation additions

capacity electricity generating capacity generation hydroelectric natural gas nuclear solar wind

California has nearly half of the nation's solar electricity generating capacity

California capacity electricity generating capacity generation solar states

Electricity generation from renewable sources expected to grow 9% this year

STEO biomass electricity geothermal hydroelectric solar wind

Energy use by federal agencies continues to decline

alternative fuels buildings exports/imports vehicles

EIA electricity data now include estimated small-scale solar PV capacity and generation

California Hawaii Massachusetts New Jersey New York capacity commercial distribution electricity generating capacity generation industrial net metering residential solar states utility

Power generation from coal and natural gas expected to temporarily converge this spring

STEO coal electricity hydroelectric natural gas nuclear

Natural gas, renewables projected to provide larger shares of electricity generation

coal electricity exports/imports liquid fuels natural gas nuclear oil/petroleum

Total energy subsidies decline since 2010, with changes in support across fuel types

biofuels coal electricity liquid fuels natural gas nuclear oil/petroleum solar wind

Recent Data

U.S. Renewables consumption
quadrillion Btu
	2013	2014	2015 E	2016 P
Hydroelectric power	2.562	2.469	2.257	2.415
Geothermal	0.214	0.222	0.226	0.236
Solar	0.305	0.427	0.522	0.624
Wind	1.596	1.729	1.765	2.042
Wood biomass	2.170	2.214	2.041	1.980
Ethanol	1.090	1.107	1.141	1.144
Biodiesel	0.205	0.198	0.222	0.261
Waste biomass	0.496	0.488	0.494	0.502
Total	9.349	9.603	9.432	9.970
Source: Short-Term Energy Outlook Renewables and Carbon Dioxide Emissions