Clearer skies ahead.Number twoAccording to the US Energy Information Administration, (EIA), renewables were the second most popular source of electricity in 2020, after natural gas. This is the first time this has happened in American history.Renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric, accounted for 21 per cent of the total electricity produced in the country by 2020. Only 19% of electricity was generated by coal, and 20 percent by nuclear power.The country's number one energy source is still natural gas, which accounts for 40% of all electricity produced last year.It is still a significant milestone for renewable energy. This report shows that coal's decline has been steady over the past decade. According to the report, coal electricity generation fell 20 percent in 2019, while renewables grew 9 percent during the same time period. This dynamic could mean that renewables could soon be the number one.AdvertisementAdvertisementRise of GreenWhile wind energy is the predominant source of renewable energy in the nation, other sources may soon catch up. According to the EIA, utility-scale solar production, which is plants that produce more than 1 megawatt of electricity, rose 26 percent in 2020 compared with 2019.However, the situation could change soon. According to the administration, natural gas prices will rise and coal-fired electricity generation will increase in this year. They are expected to become the second-most popular source of electricity by 2021.Although there is still much to do, it's a significant moment in the history of renewables.Aaron Huertas, a former House staffer, tweeted that we love to see it.AdvertisementAdvertisementREAD MORE: In 2020, renewables were the second most popular source of electricity in the United States [EIA]More about renewables: India is building a green energy megapark that will rival Singapore
