The chart illustrates data on electricity generation from renewable and non-renewable energy sources in the United States over a decade, from 2009 to 2019. Overall, the usage of renewable energy has either increased or remained stable throughout this period, while the consumption of non-renewable energy has experienced both increases and decreases.
Despite renewable energy being consumed less than non-renewable sources, there has been a significant rise in its usage. For instance, wind energy production surged from 94 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 to an impressive 300 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019, while solar energy climbed from just 1 billion kilowatt-hours to 73 billion kilowatt-hours. In contrast, natural gas consumption rose significantly, from 921 billion kilowatt-hours to 1,582 billion kilowatt-hours, making it the most consumed energy source in 2019.
However, some renewable energy sources, such as geothermal and biomass, exhibited only minor increases over the decade, and hydroelectric power usage remained constant throughout the 10-year period.
On the other hand, non-renewable energy sources like petroleum experienced a slight decline in use, dropping from 57 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 to 40 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019. Additionally, coal saw a more substantial decrease in its significance, falling from 1,756 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009 to 966 billion kilowatt-hours by 2019, making it the second most generated electricity source.