Though still behind natural gas-fired generation, renewables supplied nearly one-quarter of total utility-scale generation in the first half of 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

Electricity

EIA’s June Electricity Monthly Update found that renewables increased their market share 3% year/year to 24%, following a decade-long trend of jumping 3% every five to six years. According to the agency, renewables are the “fastest-growing” source for electricity generation in the country. 

EIA’s Short Term Energy Outlook for September predicted renewables could account for 22% of total electricity in all of 2022, followed by 24% in 2023. 

With melting snowpacks and peak wind season simultaneously occurring, hydropower and wind generation, combined, are...