Renewable energy provided 17.6% of electricity generation in the United States in 2018

Renewable energy provided 17.6% of electricity generation in the United States in 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Renewable generation (wind energy, photovoltaica and concentrated solar power) provided a record of 742 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2018, nearly twice as much as the 382 million megawatt-hours produced in 2008. Nearly 90% of the rise in U.S. renewable electricity between 2008 and 2018 came from wind power and solar energy generation. Wind turbines generation increased to 275 million megawatt-hours in 2018, from 55 million megawatt-hours in 2008, and accounted for 6.5% of total electricity generation. Only conventional hydroelectric generation exceeded wind generation with regard to renewable energy. Hydroelectric generation produced 292 million megawatt-hours in 2018 and accounted for 6.9% of total generation.