Nuclear eclipsed by renewables in the US

Renewable energy sources – including wind and solar – now provide a greater share of the US energy supply than nuclear power. According to the Energy Information Administration, both production and consumption of renewable energy were higher than nuclear power in the last nine months of 2011. The shift came despite a tough year for renewable energy which saw the implosion of solar manufacturer, Solyndra. In the equivalent periods in 2009 and 2010, nuclear held a significant lead over renewables but declined in 2011.