In 2021, U.S. wind power capacity additions reached approximately 13.4 gigawatts, a decrease from the previous year, which registered the highest value at 17.2 gigawatts. The share of renewable energy sources in the U.S. has seen an increase in the last years. In 2021, renewables accounted for almost 21 percent of the country's electricity generation.
Energy after recession
When crude oil prices increased during the financial crisis, investors began to consider how to make other sources more cost-effective. Post-Recession investments included clean energy, but also largely focused on developing new methods to extract more fossil fuels such as natural gas. In general, fossil fuel subsidies worldwide have increased for oil and natural gas from 2010 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2018.
International investments in clean energy
U.S. investment in clean energy drastically increased from 2004 to around the time of the financial crisis, and then grew at a slower and more variable rate. In 2020 and 2021 renewable energy investments registered record values. In 2019, the United States ranked second worldwide in terms of new investment in renewable energy. In that year, China invested much more into renewables than the United States. Other countries, such as Japan, India, and Brazil also had notable clean energy investments.
Capacity additions of wind energy in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021
(in gigawatts)
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US Department of Energy. (March 15, 2023). Capacity additions of wind energy in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021 (in gigawatts) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/222471/projected-us-wind-power-capacity-additions/
US Department of Energy. "Capacity additions of wind energy in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021 (in gigawatts)." Chart. March 15, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/222471/projected-us-wind-power-capacity-additions/
US Department of Energy. (2023). Capacity additions of wind energy in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021 (in gigawatts). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/222471/projected-us-wind-power-capacity-additions/
US Department of Energy. "Capacity Additions of Wind Energy in The U.S. from 2010 to 2021 (in Gigawatts)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Mar 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/222471/projected-us-wind-power-capacity-additions/
US Department of Energy, Capacity additions of wind energy in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021 (in gigawatts) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/222471/projected-us-wind-power-capacity-additions/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Capacity additions of wind energy in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021 (in gigawatts) [Graph], US Department of Energy, March 15, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/222471/projected-us-wind-power-capacity-additions/