Wind power saw the biggest jump from 0.92 quadrillion Btu, or quads, in 2010 up to 1.17 quads in 2011. “Wind energy jumped significantly because, as in previous years, many new wind farms came online,” said A.J. Simon, energy systems analyst, LLNL. “This is the result of sustained investment in wind power.”
Hydroelectricity also saw an increase from 2.51 quads in 2010 to 3.17 quads in 2011. LLNL attributes the increase in hydroelectricity to large amounts of precipitation in the Western U.S., which allowed hydroelectric dams to produce at maximum levels while keeping reservoirs full. Similar levels of hydroelectric production were recorded in 1997, 1998, and 1999 due to wet years.