Renewable & Alternative Fuels - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Renewable & Alternative Fuels

Energy In Brief Articles

What are renewable portfolio standards and how do they affect generation of electricity from renewable sources?

Renewable portfolio standards are policies designed to increase electricity generation from renewable resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. Many States have their own renewable portfolio standards, although currently there is no program at the National level. States with renewable portfolio programs have seen an increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable fuels.

How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?

Americans used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), wood, biofuels, wind, organic waste, geothermal, and sun — to meet about 8% of our total energy needs, and 10% of total U.S. electricity generation in 2009. Electricity producers consumed 53% of total U.S. renewable energy in 2009 for producing electricity.

How much of the world's electricity supply is generated from wind?

Worldwide wind power generation exceeded 250 billion kilowatthours in 2009, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 22 million average households in the United States. Wind generation increased by about 20% from 2008 to 2009, and has more than tripled since 2004. This growth is mostly due to capacity increases in the United States, China, India, and Western Europe.

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Renewable Energy Explained

What is renewable energy?

Unlike fossil fuels, which are exhaustible, renewable energy sources regenerate and can be sustained indefinitely. The five renewable sources used most often are biomass, water (hydropower), geothermal, wind, and solar.

Renewable energy incentives

Investment in and use of renewable energy is both encouraged and required by a range of State and Federal Government incentives and legislation.

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Features

Biodiesel and fuel ethanol statistics

Released January 27, 2012

The most recent monthly and annual overview statistics for fuel ethanol and biodiesel, published in the Monthly Energy Review.


image of gas pump with 10% ethanol signU.S. Fuel Ethanol Plant Production Capacity

Released November 29, 2011

This is the first release of U.S. Energy Information Administration data on fuel ethanol production capacity. Future capacity data will be released annually near the end of September (data for January 1). This new report contains production capacity data for all operating U.S. fuel ethanol production plants as of January 1, 2011.


image of wind turbinesRenewable Energy Consumption and Electricity Preliminary Statistics 2010

Released June 28, 2011

This report provides preliminary 2010 statistics related to renewable energy consumption, including electricity net generation from renewable energy by end use and by source, and net summer capacity.


thumbnail chart of U.S. green pricng customers, 2005-2009Green Pricing and Net Metering Programs 2009

Released July 21, 2011

In 2009, the number of customers in green pricing and net metering programs reached new highs. Green pricing customers totaled 1,123,778 in 2009, with Texas leading in the most customers. Net metering customers totaled 96,506 for the year, with California leading in customers.


image of biofuels pumpAlternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2009

Released April 2011

EIA collects data on the number of alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs) supplied each year; i.e., new AFVs and conventionally fueled vehicles converted to operate on an alternate fuel; and for a limited set of fleet user groups, the number of AFVs in use and the amount of alternate transportation fuel consumed. The user groups surveyed are Federal and State governments, alternate fuel providers, and transit companies.