Contrary to reports in the media, data from the Energy Information Agency supports the fact that the percentage of our electricity in the U.S. coming from green sources has doubled in just four years to nearly six percent. The green sources include non-hydroelectric renewables such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.
The renewable energy industry is growing fast. While solar cell manufacturers may have taken a hit due to stiff competition from China, they account for only three percent of the roughly 100,000 U.S. jobs in the solar sector. Another quarter make other components and the rest, making up a large, growing and local job base, work elsewhere in the value chain. The fastest growing players are young companies that sell, install and service solar; and many of these have seen revenues skyrocket in the past couple of years. Some industry experts estimate that the solar business is growing 30 percent per year.
Here are some examples of the success other countries are having in implementing renewable energy:
Portugal transformed its electric grid from 17 percent renewables to 45 percent in just five years (as of 2010). And in the first half of 2012, renewables provided over 25 percent of Germany’s electricity. On one sunny day this past May, Germany set a world record by generating 50 percent of its peak electricity needs solely from solar power.
Oak Electric Service is one of southeast Michigan’s leading renewable energy contractors. If you are contemplating a solar or wind power project for your home or business, give us a call at (800) 964-7070. We invite you to visit our website at www.oakelectric.com to learn more about us and our renewable energy solutions.
