The Facts:

North America has pledged a (very, very) ambitious goal of 50% renewable energy by 2025. Based on the US data (below), we still have quite a way to go. While our percentage of renewable energy use is at an all time high (just shy of 10%, or around 19% if you count nuclear energy in that category), no US renewable energy source is showing the kind of growth that would be needed to meet that 2025 goal.

The Figures:

For contrast, here is the our fossil fuel use by source over the same time period:

The Point

There is a clear upward trend in our renewable use, although it doesn’t appear to be on track to meet our environmental goals. Nuclear energy generation has leveled out, hydroelectric has a lot of variation but appears to be trending slightly downward. Biomass energy (biofuels) and geothermal are trending steadily upward. Wind and solar have the most notable trajectories. Both energy sources have grown exponentially over the past decade, due to massive decreases in kilowatt hour cost (more on that later).

Notes

Data gathered from U.S. Energy Information Administration, Renewables Report. All data represents US only.