678 quadrillion

Projected total worldwide energy use (in British thermal units) in the year 2030, a 44 percent increase from 2006, according to new information from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration.

Just last week, this blog ran an item about how the recession has brought about a decline in energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions. But, says the EIA, the global downturn in energy use is temporary: "The current global economic downturn will dampen world energy demand in the near term, as manufacturing and consumer demand for goods and services slows. However, with economic recovery anticipated to begin within the next 12 to 24 months, most nations are expected to see energy consumption growth at rates anticipated prior to the recession."

That growth will result in a 39 percent worldwide increase in energy-related CO₂ emissions, from 29.1 billion metric tons in 2005 to 40.4 billion metric in 2030, according to the EIA.

There is some good news: The EIA says that concerns over both energy prices and the environment has sparked interest in renewable energy, which it notes is the is the fastest-growing source of electricity generation worldwide. The EIA predicts that renewable energy used for electricity generation will grow by an average of 2.9 percent annually from 2006 to 2030, with hydropower and wind power the major sources. (The Power Profiler from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can tell you what the primary energy sources are in your area.)

Renewable-energy efforts are gaining momentum in this country. Just yesterday, President Barack Obama announced that more than $467 million in money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will fund geothermal- and solar-energy projects nationwide.

"We have an ambitious agenda to put millions of people to work by investing in clean energy technology like solar and geothermal energy," said Steven Chu, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. "These technologies represent two pieces of a broad energy portfolio that will help us aggressively fight climate change and renew our position as a global leader in clean energy jobs."

Read more about the president's announcement. e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Learn more about geothermal energy and tax breaks for renewable energy.