In 2019, energy consumption from renewable sources like hydroelectric, wind, and solar surpassed coal energy consumption for the first time.
Coal consumption in the US peaked in 2007 at 22.75 quadrillion BTUs, enough power for 73.6 million people for a year. By 2019, coal consumption was halved to 11.32 quadrillion BTUs of energy, enough to cover total energy usage for 36.6 million people in the US for a year. During that same period, renewable energy usage increased 74% from 6.52 quadrillion BTUs to 11.35 quadrillion BTUs.
