Winds of Change

Winds of change are blowing hard at the grassroots level despite stalemates in Washington.

In 2012, 13.2 percent of domestically produced electricity in United States came from renewable sources. Globally, renewable energy's contribution to energy production was 16 percent. United States makes up 21.2% of world wind power capacity as of 2012.

A recent September 2013 study by U.S National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) finds that $7 billion worth of fuel can be saved by switching to wind and solar.

An earlier 2010 NREL study on wind and solar had indicated that a 35 percent contribution from wind and solar energy into existing electric power systems can reduce fuel costs by 40% and carbon emissions by 25%–45% without extensive infrastructure changes. 

As per NREL that is roughly equivalent to taking 22–36 million cars off the road. That's pretty darn significant. The alternate energy money ball is about to roll uphill.