Hydropower was down due to a steep drop in snowpack levels and rainfall in the West.

"Consumption of all principal renewable energy resources decreased in 2001, except for wind," said the Energy Department's independent analytical arm.

Environmentalists have criticized the Bush administration for not doing enough to promote renewable energy sources in the White House's national energy plan.

While the administration encouraged more renewable energy production in its plan, it said the United States realistically will have to depend on traditional sources like oil and natural gas to fill most of its energy needs for the foreseeable future.

The latest renewable energy consumption assessment from the EIA appears to back the administration's position.

Oil accounted for 39 percent of U.S. energy use last year, while natural gas represented 24 percent, coal 23 percent and nuclear power 8 percent, EIA said.

For renewable energy use, biomass (ethanol, wood waste, garbage and landfill gas) had the largest share at 50 percent, followed by hydropower at 42 percent and geothermal at 6 percent. Wind and solar each accounted for 1 percent of total renewable energy consumption.

Fifty-three percent of renewable energy use came from the power sector to produce electricity.

The amount of electricity generated from renewable sources increased modestly in 2001 from the year before, rising 1,803 megawatts to 96,741 megawatts. Wind power accounted for most of that increase. One megawatt can power about 1,000 homes

The five leading states for renewable electric generation were Washington, California, Oregon, New York and Idaho.

Non-electric use of renewable energy decreased nearly 3 percent between 2000 and 2001, with 96 percent of that non-electric renewable energy consumption coming from biomass.