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The United States Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) issued a February 26th report titled:
Wind Has Surpassed Hydro as Most-Used Renewable Electricity Generation Source in U.S. (“Report”)
The Report states that in 2019 wind generation in the United States exceeded hydroelectric generation for the first time. (EIA’s Electric Power Monthly is cited as the source.)
Annual wind generation is stated to have totaled 300 million megawatthours in 2019. This is stated to have exceeded hydroelectric generation by 26 million megawatthours.
The increase of wind generation is stated to have been partly due to the federal production tax credit and its extension.
The Report also notes the seasonality of both technologies.
Hydroelectric generation is stated to be typically greatest in the spring when precipitation and melting snowpack increase water runoff. In contrast, wind generation is stated to vary across the United States. However, wind generation is described as greatest in the spring and fall.
The February 26th EIA Report can be downloaded here.