Renewables on the Rise 2020

A decade of progress toward a clean energy future

Over the last decade, America has seen explosive growth among key technologies it will take to repower the country with clean, renewable energy.

A decade of progress toward a clean energy future

Environment Illinois Research and Policy Center

Clean energy is sweeping across America

  • Solar energy: In 2019, the United States generated over 30 times more solar power than it did in 2010, enough to power 16 million average American homes. Illinois ranks thirty-fifth in the country for the growth of solar energy.
  • Wind energy: In 2019, the U.S. generated more than triple the amount of wind power it did in 2010, enough to power over 33 million homes. Illinois ranks fifth in the country for the growth of wind energy.
  • Energy efficiency: In 2018, energy efficiency programs across the U.S. saved more than one and a half times as much electricity as they did in 2010, enough to power nearly 2.5 million homes. Illinois ranks fourth in the country for the growth of energy efficiency.
  • Electric vehicles: There were nearly 330,000 electric vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2019, up from virtually none just a decade earlier. Illinois ranks ninth in the country cumulative electric vehicle sales.
  • Energy storage: The U.S. saw a 20-fold increase in utility-scale battery storage from 2010 to 2019. Illinois ranks second in the country for the growth of battery storage.

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