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>>> Edward Mainland <emainland@COMCAST.NET> 8/4/2010 1:03 PM >>>
These latest numbers can serve to answer those who contend that
renewable power can't be scaled up fast enough as fossil fuel sources
are supplanted by cleaner energy options and the transition proceeds
toward a low-carbon energy economy.. Note in particular the explosive
growth in the solar PV market -- 60% yearly for the past decade.
Correct policies, supported by Sierra Club and other advocates of
renewable power, can help keep these trends bending upward. -- Ed M.

Renewables 2010 Global Status Report

·       $150 billion was invested in new renewable energy capacity in
2009; up from $20 billion in 2004.
·       Worldwide, about 500,000 people are employed in the wind
industry, and 600,000 in solar energy
·       Nearly half (47%) of all new power generation capacity built in
2008 and 2009 worldwide was renewable
·       305 gigawatts of existing renewable electric power generation
capacity worldwide (by comparison: the entire US power generation
capacity is 1000 gigawatts)
·       At current rates of construction, another 500 gigawatts of
renewable electric power generation will be online by 2020
·       Solar water and space heating provided another 180 gigawatts of
thermal capacity
·       Solar hot water is used in 70 million households, mostly in
China
·       38 gigawatts of wind power were added in 2009, bringing the
world total to 159 gigawatts
·       Global photovoltaics market has grown 60% per year every year
for the past decade, increasing 100-fold since 2000.
·       More than 100 countries have renewable policies

Download the report here:
http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/REN21_GSR_2010_full.pdf

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