The following data illustrates the electricity generation in the United States in 2009 and 2019, categorized by renewable and non-renewable sources.
Overall, there was a notable shift in energy sources from coal towards natural gas and renewables over the decade. Specifically, natural gas and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar witnessed significant growth, while coal experienced a considerable decline. Despite fluctuations in other sources, nuclear energy and hydroelectric power remained relatively stable throughout the period.
In detail, the consumption of natural gas surged from 837 in 2009 to 1,582 units in 2019, marking a substantial increase. Conversely, coal usage dropped from 1,755 units in 2009 to 966 units in 2019. Nuclear energy showed a minor increase from 899 units to 921 units, whereas petroleum saw a decrease from 57 units to 40 units during the same period. Renewables, on the other hand, experienced growth, with a rise from 437 units in 2009 to 720 units in 2019. Wind energy demonstrated a remarkable increase from 73 units to 300 units, and solar energy surged from 2 units to 94 units. Hydropower remained consistent at 273 units for both years, while geothermal energy declined marginally from 16 units to 15 units. Plant/animal matter maintained stability at 54 units for both years.
The significant rise in wind energy by 227 units and solar energy by 92 units in 2019 indicates a shift towards more sustainable energy sources. In contrast, hydropower remained unchanged at 273 units throughout both years. Geothermal energy experienced a slight decrease from 16 units to 15 units. Despite fluctuations in other renewable sources, plant/animal matter showed consistency at 54 units for both 2009 and 2019.