Let’s look at the state of the race!
1. Renewables [1] outpaced nuclear by more than 25 percent last year in terms of energy supply.
2. Renewable energy generating capacity is more than double that of nuclear.
3. Renewable energy’s share of electrical energy production in the U.S. is growing rapidly: It has increased from 9.5 percent a decade ago to 15.8 percent in 2016.
“If renewable sources maintain their current growth rates,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, “they could fully eclipse nuclear in the trifecta of not only energy supply and generating capacity, but also electricity production within the next five or six years – or less.”
- Nuclear power’s share of net electrical generation has remained essentially flat over the past decade – it was 19.4 percent in 2006.
“If renewable sources maintain their current growth rates,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, “they could fully eclipse nuclear in the trifecta of not only energy supply and generating capacity, but also electricity production within the next five or six years – or less.”
Growing up playing baseball, I learned that three strikes means your out . . . And nuclear is not only losing the race with renewables, but nuclear is close to striking out in America.
[1] Renewables include solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels and biomass, and hydropower.