For the first time since 1984, renewable energy production outpaced nuclear in March and April, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Thursday.
Renewable power overtook nuclear power largely because of spikes in hydropower, wind and solar, coupled with a dip in nuclear production, during those two months.
Hydro reached its highest production level in nearly six years, aided by record precipitation and snowpack in California.
Wind and solar output, which fluctuates seasonally, increased 16 percent and 65 percent respectively, according to EIA.
Nuclear plants, whose fluctuations are mainly due to maintenance schedules, have produced relatively flat net generation since the late 1990s, the EIA said.
