New solar photovoltaic manufacturing facilities are planned
for Arizona, Michigan, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. The surge
in solar manufacturing follows a banner year for First Solar,
which shipped more than a gigawatt of solar modules, and is
indicative of rapid growth in the solar power industry.
Estimated energy demand is charted to grow by almost 50% in the next 20 years.
Fossil fuels provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the US, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels. (Source: DOE)
Appliances account for roughly 65% of electricity consumption in the average American household (2001), with refrigerators and lighting making up the largest categories. (Source: EIA)
Public policies such as appliance and vehicle efficiency standards and building codes are responsible for at least 20% of the improvement in the US's energy intensity--energy use per unit of GDP. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
The United States makes up 5% of the world's population and accounts for 25% of total energy use.
