Americans could use renewable energy from solar, wind and hydro power more than coal by 2021

Americans could use renewable energy produced by solar, wind and hydroelectric power more than coal by 2021, according to a new report. CNN reports that solar and wind power are growing in use so quickly that for the first time ever the country is likely to get more power from renewable energy than from coal by 2021, according to projections from the Institute for Energy Economic and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The change in American power supply comes as energy produced from coal power plants is in sharp decline while renewables are surging. CNN notes the shift away from coal is due largely to environmental concerns, aging plants and competition from other energy sources. Between 2000 and 2010, coal provided about half of America's power generation, but coal consumption has since fallen dramatically.