Electricity Consumption from Renewable Sources Grows

Electricity consumption from renewable energy sources is continuing to show strong growth in the United States. Wind energy has been growing the fastest, with consumption increasing 50% from 1990 to 1994 (from 0.024 to 0.036 quads), according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 1995

Renewable Energy Annual. The photovoltaics industry is growing annually, but most PV modules are sold for remote applications rather than power generation. PV module shipments increased 24% during 1994, capping a decade of increases that averaged 16% per year. Total U.S. module production is now about 26 peak megawatts (MW). PV module exports (18 peak MW in 1994) have increased at an average rate of 27% per year since 1985.