Wind blows past coal and nuclear in energy output for first time ever

On March 29, 2022, America’s wind power produced more energy than the nation’s nuclear and coal plants combined for the first time ever.

On that day, for the first time wind became the second greatest source of energy in the country, falling behind only natural gas in energy production. This momentous milestone highlights the progress America’s wind energy industry has seen over the past decade. American wind energy production nearly tripled from 2011 to 2020, and more states today are harnessing more energy than ever before.

“Renewable energy, including wind power, is at a critical moment,” said Johanna Newmann, senior director for Environment America’s Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy. “To build a sustainable society and leave dirty, dangerous fossil fuels in the past, we need Congress to expand and update clean energy tax incentives for technologies that facilitate the generation of wind energy.”

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Photo: Wind produced more power in the U.S. than coal and nuclear combined for the first time in March 2022. Credit: Bureau of Land Management California via Flickr, CC0

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Johanna Neumann

Senior Director, Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America

Johanna directs strategy and staff for Environment America's energy campaigns at the local, state and national level. In her prior positions, she led the campaign to ban smoking in all Maryland workplaces, helped stop the construction of a new nuclear reactor on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and helped build the support necessary to pass the EmPOWER Maryland Act, which set a goal of reducing the state’s per capita electricity use by 15 percent. She also currently serves on the board of Community Action Works. Johanna lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family, where she enjoys growing dahlias, biking and the occasional game of goaltimate. 

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