In March 2019, renewables generated more electricity than
coal for the first time in US history.
coal for the first time in US history.
Quartz gives the chart below, but it clearly has problems, because a megawatt/day is not a unit of energy. Perhaps they meant megawatt-days. And renewables only out-generate coal in the projected part of their graph, not in March 2019, when it actually does. And they only show four data points a year, when they're writing about an individual month. Sloppy.
Not only this, but wind turbine technician is now the fastest growing occupation in the US, a job that pays a median of $51,000/yr. Wind generated about 5.5% of electricity in 2016. The wind industry employs over 100,000 people; solar about 260,000. The number of coal miners is now about 53,000.
By the way, the EIA's Electricity Monthly Update front page gives no mention to renewables at all. It's like they don't even exist. Or like they don't want them to exist.
Not only this, but wind turbine technician is now the fastest growing occupation in the US, a job that pays a median of $51,000/yr. Wind generated about 5.5% of electricity in 2016. The wind industry employs over 100,000 people; solar about 260,000. The number of coal miners is now about 53,000.
By the way, the EIA's Electricity Monthly Update front page gives no mention to renewables at all. It's like they don't even exist. Or like they don't want them to exist.
3 comments:
"megawatt/day is not a unit of energy"
Maybe both coal and wind energy generation are accelerating out of control? 8P
According to the linked chart, in 2018 coal supplied 4 times as much energy as wind for US electricity generation.
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
Cheers
David, first, the chart in my post is for all renewables, not just wind. Your chart (thanks) shows coal-powered electricity at about 1.6 times renewables. The chart looks compatible with that.
Secondly, the statement about renewables passing coal was for a month (of March), not anything annual. But stay tuned.
Post a Comment