According to a study published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), up to 80% of the power needed by the whole country could be supplied by renewable energy sources by 2050. The agency even believes that a large chunk of that — 50%, in fact — could come from wind and solar energy sources, which are sometimes criticized due to their unpredictable output.
This percentage, the NREL said, could be achieved using technologies already available today. Contribution by all 50 states is one of the keys to make it happen, with each state playing to its strengths. A region rich in sunshine, for instance, could concentrate on solar energy, while other regions could work mainly with biomass, hydropower, or something else.
