The provided bar graphs illustrate the power generated by various renewable and non-renewable resources in the United States over a specific period of time. The units are measured in million kilowatt-hours.
Overall, the majority of the electric demand in America is met by coal and hydroelectric plants. Over time, a significant shift in resource utilization can also be observed, with a transition from coal to natural gas and from hydro power to wind energy.
To begin with, among all non-renewable resources, petroleum was the least preferred in both 2009 and 2019. However, over the decade, a slight increase in the contributions from renewable sources and nuclear energy has been noted. In contrast, there has been a dramatic decline in reliance on coal, with about one-third of coal usage decreasing in this period.
Regarding renewable resources, the energy produced by wind has surged from 94 million kilowatt-hours to 300 million kilowatt-hours within a decade, while the inclination of Americans towards solar-generated energy has risen by 72 million kilowatt-hours. Conversely, geothermal energy and biofuel energy exhibit a consistent trend with minimal fluctuations