Geoscience FAQ
How much U.S. electricity is generated from renewable energy?
Information preserved from U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Renewable energy sources provided 17% of U.S. electricity generation in 2017. Most of this was in the form of hydro and wind power.
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- Renewable Energy Production and Consumption by Primary Energy Source, 1949– 2012 (Data), Energy Information Administration
Data on renewable energy production and consumption for hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass energy sources.
- 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book (Report), Department of Energy
Report on the state of renewable energy in the United States and worldwide, with lots of data, maps, and charts for each renewable energy source.
- Clean Energy (Website), Department of Energy
Department of Energy hub for information on renewable energy in the U.S., including the Department of Energy's work in renewable energy.
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Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is harvested by drilling into underground reservoirs of steam or water heated by the Earth. While western states like California and Nevada [lead the country in geothermal energy production](https://www.nrel.gov/images/libraries/gis-images/geothermal-capacity.jpg), emerging technologies may make it possible to extract geothermal energy throughout the United States.
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Renewable Energy
Renewable energy comes from sources that are constantly replenished, like running water, the heat of the Earth, the Sun's light, or wind. Renewables account for around [11% of U.S. energy consumption and 17% of electricity production](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/renewable-sources/).
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