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Environment

Slow Growth for Renewables

Renewable energy use registers only marginal growth in 2004

by Glen Hess
September 1, 2005

Despite strong growth in demand for ethanol in fuel, renewable energy consumption in the U.S. increased slightly less than 1% last year, according to the Energy Departments Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Total energy consumption grew faster than did renewables, rising nearly 2% in 2004 to 100.3 quadrillion Btu. Use of petroleum and natural gas supplied most of the increase. Renewables accounted for 6.1 quadrillion Btu or 6% of total U.S. energy demand.

EIA says the electric power and industrial sectors continued to dominate renewable energy use in 2004, but the transportation sector experienced the greatest growth, 24%. This was largely due to the expanding use of fuel ethanol as states continued to phase out methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive.

Total U.S. electricity generation increased 2% in 2004, but renewable-generated electricity dropped 1% as a result of reductions in hydropower and biomass energy. Wind power increased rapidly—by 27%—but it still accounted for only 0.4% of the U.S. total. Overall, renewable electricity supplied 9% of net generation last year. By mid-2005, EIA says 22 states had adopted renewable portfolio standards or mandates.

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