‹ Older | 60% of New Power Capacity in 2008 Was Clean 60% of New
Power Capacity in 2008 Was Clean | Newer › If you look at the
numbers, green power has momentum. Close to 60 percent of the
new generating capacity added in the U.S. in 2008 revolves
around new renewables, i.e., solar, wind, geothermal and other
renewable energy devices that aren't large hydroelectric dams.
That comes from Travis Bradford, who heads up the Prometheus
Institute. (Prometheus and Greentech Media conduct joint
research and hold events together.) "Over half of the new
capacity comes from new renewables," he said. That's a pretty
good spike. In 2005, new renewables only accounted for about 15
percent of marginal capacity. In 2006, it jumped to 30 percent
and then to 45 percent in 2007. Overall, about 40 gigawatts of
new renewables have been added in five years. How many gigawatts
of nuclear have been added? That number would be zero, he added.
Renewables could potentially also gain on traditional power
because of the credit crunch, he