According to a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the first eleven months of 2019, the mix of renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) is now in first place in the race for new US generating capacity added in 2019.
FERC's latest monthly "Energy Infrastructure Update" report (with data through November 30, 2019) reveals renewable sources accounted for 8,784 MW of new generating capacity through the end of November. That is 8% more than that of natural gas (7,819 MW), nuclear (155 MW), oil (77 MW), and coal (62 MW) combined. Combined, renewables provided 52% of new generating capacity through the first eleven months of 2019 and seem poised to increase their share once the final December numbers are released.
Renewables have now also surpassed 22% (i.e., 22.03%) of the nation's total available installed generating capacity - further expanding their lead over coal capacity (20.92%). Among renewables, wind can boast the largest installed electrical generating capacity - 8.52% of the US total, followed by hydropower (8.43%), solar (3.43%) [2], biomass (1.33%), and geothermal (0.32%).
Moreover, FERC foresees renewables dramatically expanding their lead over fossil fuels and nuclear power in terms of new capacity additions during the coming three years (i.e., December 2019 - November 2022). Net generating capacity additions (i.e., "proposed additions under construction" minus "proposed retirements") for renewable sources total 49,926 MW including 213 MW for geothermal - another 247 MW of future geothermal capacity is proposed.
