The bar charts illustrate the statistical changes in electricity generation with use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources in US over a ten year period. The units are measured in billion kilowatt-hours.
Overall, it is evident that the usage of natural gas and renewables for generating electricity have increased dramatically while the use of coal over the same period experienced a decline.
The first chart demonstrates the details of various renewables and non-renewables used for electricity generation in United States. In 2009, coal stood at the top in electricity generation (1756 billion kilowatt-hours) which later witnessed a drop to 966 billion kilowatt-hours by 2019. Natural gas, in 2009 been in a position after coal with 921 billion kilowatt-hours which by 2019 has become a major electricity generating source replacing the place of coal that is, 1582 billion kilowatt-hours. Similarly, electricity generation from renewable sources saw almost a two fold rise from 437 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 to 720 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019. Nuclear energy as a electricity generator source remained relatively stable, with a minimal increase from 799 billion kilowatt-hours to 809 billion kilowatt-hours. On the other hand, contribution of Petroleum declined from 57 units in 2009 to 40 units in 2019.
Focusing solely on renewable energy sources, wind as an electricity generator source stood at 94 units in 2009, which saw a significant increase to 300 units in 2019 being in the top. Also, solar energy as a source depicted a remarkable growth, rising from 1 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 to 73 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019. Conversely, hydroelectric energy (stood at 273 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 and 2019), geothermal energy (15 units in 2009, 16 units in 2019), plant or animal matter (54 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 and 58 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019) as the sources for electricity generation almost remained constant or no major notable shifts demonstrated for both the years.