A new study by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), a UN-backed organization, found that in 2009, half of new power generation capacity built in the U.S. was in the form of renewable energy.

And we're not alone.  In Europe, renewables accounted for 60 percent of new power generation capacity in 2009, and globally, renewables now comprise 25 percent of power capacity and delivered 18 percent of the world's electricity in 2009.

China has made the greatest strides by adding 37 GW of renewable energy and leads the world in the manufacturing of both solar panels and wind turbines.

Though these numbers are exciting, renewables still only account for a small fraction of total electricity produced in the U.S.  We have a long way to go, but at least we're heading in the right direction.

via Inhabitat