Most of the expected growth in renewable electricity generation will come from new wind and solar plants, as well as increases in hydroelectric generation after a relatively dry 2015. Electricity from utility-scale renewable sources is projected to account for 14% of all U.S. electricity generation for 2016, with wind and solar expected to account for 5.2% and 0.8%, respectively.
The renewal of several federal tax credits aimed at promoting renewable energy is not expected to factor strongly in the growth expected for renewable energy growth in 2016, as much of the capacity expected to come online was already planned years in advance.
Electricity generation from other renewable sources is expected to increase modestly for 2016. While biomass-derived electricity is expected to remain flat for the year, geothermal electricity generation is expected to grow 4%. The wetter El Nino weather pattern is expected to contribute to robust hydroelectric generation, after years of drought had constrained it.