Renewable generation reached large gains in 2011, but that increase was due to a very good hydroelectric year. Hydroelectricity in 2012 is on the decline, producing 14 percent less electricity through the first 7 months of this year compared to last year. Through the first 7 months of 2012 hydroelectricity produced 30 billion kilowatt hours less electricity than through the first 7 months of 2011. The forecasters at the Energy Information Administration (EIA) expect that trend to continue and that the increases in other renewable energy (wind, solar, and geothermal) will not make up the difference in hydroelectricity's decline this year. In fact, EIA expects total renewable energy consumption to decline by 2.6 percent in 2012 due to hydroelectric power generation returning to its long-term average level
