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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Year of Plenty

Renewable Energy Less Than 1% of World Energy Production

Euan Mearns at the Oil Drum has put together a couple of helpful charts that illustrate the current status of renewable energy production. Ironically, BP's annual worldwide energy survey provides the data.

This first chart shows the rapid growth in renewable energy production (wind, solar, geothermal).

World_renwables

The rapid growth of wind power is impressive until you see the other chart below where renewables are such a small sliver of world energy production that they are barely visible.

World_energy

Looking at these charts, it's hard not to a get a little apocalyptic about a future with constrained supplies of fossil fuels. Not quite time to buy that Mad Max leather jacket, but maybe time to do a little window shopping.

The BP report is worth scanning through. They may not do well with deepwater oil wells but they sure do put together a great report on world energy. Click through for more charts and data from BP's world energy survey.

h/t Good

Mearn's charts appear to leave off ethanol. The BP report shows the growth in ethanol production;

Ethanol
Here's their world map showing per capita energy consumption.

570xprimary_map_energy_consumption_per_capita 




Year of Plenty

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com