Highlights Coal forecast 18% higher in 2021, renewables up 7% Coal was largest source of US electricity until 2016 Renewables account for 80% of 2021 additions Renewable energy generation became the second most-used electricity source in the US, behind only natural gas, after surpassing coal-fired generation and nuclear power in 2020, the US Energy Information Administration announced July 28. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now Renewable energy sources — including wind, hydroelectric, solar, biomass and geothermal energy — generated a record 834 billion kWh of electricity, or about 21% of all the electricity generated in the US in 2020, according to EIA. Renewables surpassed both nuclear, at 790 billion kWh, and coal, 774 billion kWh, for the first time on record. “This outcome in 2020 was due mostly to significantly less coal use in US electricity generation and steadily increased use of wind […]