US renewables spending in 2012 means more than figures - Ernst & Young

Aug 23, 2013 - US clean energy investment was USD 44.2 billion (EUR 33bn) in 2012, marking a decline from USD 65.4 billion in 2011 but still exceeding yearly spending between 2007 and 2011, Ernst & Young LLP said earlier in the week.

The global financial consultancy pointed out that due to falling prices, the investment amount at present translates into much more capacity that in previous years.

According to Ernst & Young’s latest US renewable energy attractiveness indices published this week, renewable energy installations equalled 49% of all capacity added in the US for 2012. Fresh wind capacity hit the record 13,124 MW, while solar photovoltaic (PV) additions stood at 3,313 MW. Biomass power capacity installed in 2012 amounted to 894 TWh of generation, while geothermal capacity grew by 77 MW, Ernst & Young said.

California is once again on the top spot both in the all renewables and solar categories, while Texas is number-one in wind. The top five states in the all renewables index were California, Hawaii, Texas, Colorado and Nevada. These same states more or less shaped the solar and wind indices with two additions -- Illinois was among the best performing states for the long-term wind index category and New Mexico was among the leaders in long-term solar index.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.749)

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