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provided 11.14% of U.S. energy production during the first six months of 2010, compared to 10.71% in 2009 and 10.35% in 2008. While that's certainly not explosive growth, the numbers do represent steady expansion of renewable energy production, according to an interpretation of U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Monthly Energy Review by the SUN DAY Campaign, a nonprofit research and educational organization. EIA is a DOE agency. What may be surprising is that the largest source of renewable energy by far was biomass, which contributed 50.66% of renewable energy production, while hydropower accounted for 32.56%. Contributions from other renewables broke down this way: wind (10.91%), geothermal (4.53%) and solar (1.32%). SUN DAY also noted that, according to EIA's most current Electric Power Monthly report, renewables provided 10.91% of net electricity generation in the first six months of 2010, with 6.84% from hydropower and 4.07% from renewables like wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. The contribution of renewables to the country's power supply at this point is almost equal to nuclear output. "When Congress resumes its debate on pending energy and climate legislation in the post-election lame duck session, it would do well to take note of the clear trends in the nation's changing energy mix," said Ken Bossong, executive director for SUN DAY. "Renewable energy has proven itself to be a solid investment – growing rapidly and nipping at the heels of the stagnant nuclear power industry."
Quick Take: The swarm of numbers can be confusing, but we think we understand the bottom line: slow but steady growth in renewably energy production.
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