Historically, low fossil fuel prices, especially for natural gas, have made growth difficult for renewable fuels. The deregulation and restructuring of the electric power industry could have a major impact on renewable energy consumption. Demands for cheaper power in the short term would likely decrease demand for renewable energy, while preferences for renewables included in some versions of proposed electricity restructuring legislation would breathe new life into this industry.
Use of renewables in the United States is not currently expected to approach that of the major fuels, and due to their limitations (e.g., their intermittent nature - cloudy days have no solar gain, quiet days mean no wind blows to drive wind turbines, dams are primarily for flood control, so hydroelectricity production varies as dams' water levels change), renewables may never provide "the" answer to all energy problems. Around the world, renewable energy is proving to be of great value.
In 2005, about 6.1 Quadrillion Btu (Quads) of U.S. energy came from renewable fuels. Each of the energy sources we use is measured, purchased, and sold in a different form. Many units of measurement are used to measure the energy we use each day.
