Lawrence Livermore study finds more renewable use in U.S.

In California, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, led by A.J. Simon, say that Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources. Simon, an LLNL energy systems analyst who develops the energy flow charts using data provided by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, said “Energy use tends to follow the level of economic activity, and that level declined last year. At the same time, higher efficiency appliances and vehicles reduced energy use even further. As a result, people and businesses are using less energy in general.” The U.S. used significantly less coal and petroleum and a decline in natural gas use in 2009 than in 2008. At the same time, the country used significantly more wind power and increased its use of solar, hydro and geothermal.