70% of US electricity is produced using fossil fuels.

For more information, visit:
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/electricity.cfm/state=IL
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/prim2/chapter3.html

The world’s population is expected to increase every year by 74.8 million people between 2002 and 2015.

Over 2 billion people in developing countries lack access to reliable forms of energy. An estimated 526 million Africans lack access to electricity. Improving access to electricity was one of the targets adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Environmental concerns demand that a greater investment be made in renewable energies.  Climate change, nuclear waste disposal and safety and security of energy supply in particular have prompted governments to introduce policies aimed at accelerating the use of renewable energy and Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Total worldwide investment in renewable energy rose from $6 billion in 1995 to approximately $22 billion in 2003, and is increasing rapidly.

On average, every time anyone spends an American dollar, the energy equivalent of half a liter of oil is burned to produce what that dollar buys.  http://worldpopulationbalance.org/pop/energy/

America consumes far more energy than any other country -- more than China and Russia put together. America represents 5 % of the world's population and consumes 23% of its energy http://worldpopulationbalance.org/pop/energy/index.php

A woman in India would have to have 20 children to match the impact of an American woman with just one child.  http://worldpopulationbalance.org/pop/energy/index.php

According to 2007 estimates, China consumes 1.28 metric tons of oil equivalent energy per person compared to the average American who consumes 7.66 metric tons of oil equivalent energy per person. http://worldpopulationbalance.org/pop/energy/comparison.php?country=China 

The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that the average U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs, with heating accounting for almost 45 percent of that total – a figure that varies from state to state.  http://ase.org/content/news/detail/5250 
 
Hydropower contributes 19% of global electric power generation, although its importance varies from country to country, it can be made even more sustainable. Twenty-four countries generate more than 90% of their electricity through hydropower yet others generate none at all. Europe makes use of 75% of its hydropower potential, while Africa has developed only 7%. 

Hydropower is abele to meet sudden demand, providing flexibility to a national network grid. Run-of-river hydropower stations - from large to small - are clean, affordable and sustainable renewable energy providers. However, hydropower projects involving large reservoir construction fall into a different category. For more information, visit: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001444/144409E.pdf