How Green Is Your State? Here Are The 15 States With Most Renewable Energy Growth
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/08000804/15751120-150x150.jpgOne of the pillars of achieving net-zero emissions is the transition to renewable energy. While the United States produces about 60% of its electricity from fossil fuels, renewable electricity production has nearly doubled in the past decade, with some states adding hundreds of terawatt-hours of generation capacity to their grids.
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With wind power accounting for about 66% of the increase in renewables generation nationwide, many of the states with the greatest increases in renewable energy capacity are large plains states like Oklahoma, Iowa, and Texas. Meanwhile, sunny states like North Carolina, Florida, and California have invested heavily in solar. Rising drought conditions in the West, however, have hindered electricity generation from hydropower in much of the country. A closer look at the data reveals the states that have expanded their renewable electricity capacity the most over the last 10 years.
To determine the states adding the most renewable energy capacity, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on electricity generation from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. States were ranked based on the total change in net electricity generated from renewable sources from 2013 to 2023. Renewable sources included are hydroelectric, wind, and utility-scale solar.
15. Indiana
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +7.3 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 12.4%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+5.4 million MWh)
14. Nevada
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +7.6 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 26.8%
- Largest growth sector: Solar (+9.0 million MWh)
13. Minnesota
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +8.5 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 30.1%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+6.1 million MWh)
12. North Carolina
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +9.0 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 12.8%
- Largest growth sector: Solar (+11.1 million MWh)
11. North Dakota
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +9.2 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 39.4%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+9.0 million MWh)
10. Nebraska
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +10.1 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 33.1%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+10.0 million MWh)
9. Colorado
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +12.6 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 37.0%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+8.9 million MWh)
8. Florida
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +13.8 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 5.5%
- Largest growth sector: Solar (+13.8 million MWh)
7. Illinois
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +14.0 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 13.4%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+12.2 million MWh)
6. New Mexico
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +15.0 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 44.9%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+12.7 million MWh)
5. Kansas
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +17.9 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 46.8%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+17.8 million MWh)
4. Oklahoma
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +25.2 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 43.2%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+25.9 million MWh)
3. Iowa
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +26.6 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 61.4%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+25.9 million MWh)
2. California
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +47.0 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 40.3%
- Largest growth sector: Solar (+37.2 million MWh)
1. Texas
- Net change in renewable energy generation, 2013 to 2023: +112.2 million MWh
- Renewables generation as share of all fuels, 2023: 27.2%
- Largest growth sector: Wind (+84.0 million MWh)
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