Surprised Me!

April 24, 2021

As my mind wandered this morning (see earlier post 🤪), I wondered what states generate the most renewable electricity. Fortunately, I was able to find an article in a July 2019 USA Today that provided me almost what I was asking for. The following data does NOT include nuclear generated electricity which I think it should. That would change the ranking of many southeastern states that are the sites of operating nuclear power plants.

Still, I was surprised by the ranking. Having spent most of my career in the renewable energy space, I was surprised that I was surprised.

Perhaps you won't be -- or perhaps you will be. 🤔

Here's the lead in to the article"

Today, over half of all electricity in the United States is generated from coal and natural gas – resources that are not only finite, but also environmentally harmful when burned and often also when extracted. As a result, the use of cleaner, renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, and solar, is becoming more common. Renewable energy accounted for 17.0% of the national energy mix in 2017, up from 8.5% a decade prior.

The use of renewable energy is not uniform across all states, however. Using data from the Energy Information Administration, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states producing the most renewable energy. We ranked all states based on the share of total electricity production that came from renewable sources. Renewable sources is a broad EIA classification comprising geothermal, conventional hydroelectric, solar, biomass, wind, and wood and wood-derived fuels.

50. Delaware

• Electricity from renewables: 1.6% (118,065 MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 7.5 million MWh (3rd lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Biomass (other than wood) (62,815 MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 145.4% (20th highest)

49. Ohio

• Electricity from renewables: 2.3% (2.7 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 119.6 million MWh (10th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (1.6 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 219.1% (14th highest)

48. New Jersey

• Electricity from renewables: 2.5% (1.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 75.6 million MWh (20th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Biomass (other than wood) (928,777 MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 118.7% (24th highest)

47. Florida

• Electricity from renewables: 2.6% (6.1 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 238.4 million MWh (2nd highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Biomass (other than wood) (2.8 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 36.9% (11th lowest)

46. Mississippi

• Electricity from renewables: 2.6% (1.6 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 59.7 million MWh (24th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wood and wood derived fuels (1.5 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 4.7% (3rd lowest)

45. Connecticut

• Electricity from renewables: 3.4% (1.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 34.6 million MWh (14th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Biomass (other than wood) (584,313 MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 7.7% (5th lowest)

44. Louisiana

• Electricity from renewables: 3.8% (3.7 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 97.7 million MWh (15th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wood and wood derived fuels (2.7 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: -3.4% (2nd lowest)

43. Missouri

• Electricity from renewables: 4.0% (3.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 84.6 million MWh (18th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (2.0 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 176.8% (16th highest)

42. Pennsylvania

• Electricity from renewables: 4.3% (9.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 213.6 million MWh (3rd highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (3.6 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 92.8% (25th lowest)

41. West Virginia

• Electricity from renewables: 4.6% (3.3 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 73.4 million MWh (22nd highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (1.7 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 134.9% (22nd highest)

40. South Carolina

• Electricity from renewables: 4.6% (4.3 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 93.1 million MWh (16th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wood and wood derived fuels (2.2 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 21.5% (7th lowest)

39. Rhode Island

• Electricity from renewables: 4.8% (368,341 MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 7.6 million MWh (4th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Biomass (other than wood) (202,984 MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 131.5% (23rd highest)

38. Virginia

• Electricity from renewables: 5.8% (5.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 90.4 million MWh (17th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wood and wood derived fuels (2.9 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 37.4% (12th lowest)

37. Indiana

• Electricity from renewables: 6.2% (6.1 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 98.9 million MWh (14th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (5.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 802.3% (3rd highest)

36. Kentucky

• Electricity from renewables: 6.9% (5.0 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 73.2 million MWh (23rd highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (4.5 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 135.2% (21st highest)

35. Illinois

• Electricity from renewables: 7.0% (12.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 183.6 million MWh (5th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (12.3 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 798.1% (4th highest)

34. Arkansas

• Electricity from renewables: 7.3% (4.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 60.8 million MWh (25th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (2.9 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: -9.3% (the lowest)

33. Georgia

• Electricity from renewables: 7.4% (9.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 127.5 million MWh (9th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wood and wood derived fuels (4.7 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 66.6% (21st lowest)

32. Michigan

• Electricity from renewables: 8.4% (9.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 112.3 million MWh (12th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (5.2 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 155.7% (19th highest)

31. Wisconsin

• Electricity from renewables: 8.9% (5.8 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 65.1 million MWh (24th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (2.7 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 103.1% (25th highest)

30. Alabama

• Electricity from renewables: 9.2% (12.8 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 140.0 million MWh (6th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (9.2 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 61.8% (18th lowest)

29. North Carolina

• Electricity from renewables: 9.5% (12.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 128.5 million MWh (7th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Solar thermal and photovoltaic (5.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 162.3% (18th highest)

28. Maryland

• Electricity from renewables: 9.8% (3.3 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 34.1 million MWh (13th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (2.0 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 47.6% (16th lowest)

27. Massachusetts

• Electricity from renewables: 10.0% (3.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 32.2 million MWh (11th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (1.0 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 58.0% (17th lowest)

26. Wyoming

• Electricity from renewables: 11.6% (5.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 46.7 million MWh (19th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (4.3 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 266.8% (11th highest)

25. Arizona

• Electricity from renewables: 11.8% (12.5 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 105.9 million MWh (13th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (6.8 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 88.5% (23rd lowest)

24. Tennessee

• Electricity from renewables: 12.4% (9.8 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 79.0 million MWh (19th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (8.7 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 65.4% (20th lowest)

23. Utah

• Electricity from renewables: 13.2% (4.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 37.4 million MWh (16th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Solar thermal and photovoltaic (2.2 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 570.8% (6th highest)

22. Hawaii

• Electricity from renewables: 14.1% (1.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 9.8 million MWh (5th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (532,055 MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 64.1% (19th lowest)

21. Texas

• Electricity from renewables: 15.9% (71.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 452.8 million MWh (the highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (67.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 502.5% (7th highest)

20. New Mexico

• Electricity from renewables: 17.9% (6.0 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 33.6 million MWh (12th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (4.6 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 258.4% (12th highest)

19. Nebraska

• Electricity from renewables: 18.9% (6.7 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 35.4 million MWh (15th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (5.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 968.9% (2nd highest)

18. New Hampshire

• Electricity from renewables: 19.7% (3.4 million MWh)

• otal electricity generation: 17.4 million MWh (9th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wood and wood derived fuels (1.5 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 43.8% (14th lowest)

17. Colorado

• Electricity from renewables: 22.9% (12.3 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 53.8 million MWh (21st lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (9.3 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 303.8% (10th highest)

16. Nevada

• Electricity from renewables: 25.3% (9.7 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 38.2 million MWh (17th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Solar thermal and photovoltaic (4.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 193.0% (15th highest)

15. Minnesota

• Electricity from renewables: 25.4% (14.9 million MWh)

• Toal electricity generation: 58.7 million MWh (23rd lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (11.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 225.4% (13th highest)

14. Alaska

• Electricity from renewables: 28.1% (1.8 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 6.5 million MWh (2nd lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (1.6 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 40.4% (13th lowest)

13. New York

• Electricity from renewables: 28.7% (36.7 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 128.1 million MWh (8th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (30.1 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 31.1% (9th lowest)

12. North Dakota

• Electricity from renewables: 33.6% (13.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 41.5 million MWh (18th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (11.4 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 618.9% (5th highest)

11. Oklahoma

• Electricity from renewables: 35.2% (26.0 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 73.7 million MWh (21st highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (23.6 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 399.8% (9th highest)

AND NOW THE TOP 10!

10. Kansas

• Electricity from renewables: 36.7% (18.7 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 50.9 million MWh (20th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (18.6 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 1,507% (the highest)

9. Iowa

• Electricity from renewables: 39.1% (22.6 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 57.9 million MWh (22nd lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Wind (21.4 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 484.5% (8th highest)

8. Montana

• Electricity from renewables: 46.5% (13.1 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 28.2 million MWh (10th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (10.9 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 31.7% (10th lowest)

7. California

• Electricity from renewables: 47.0% (96.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 206.1 million MWh (4th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (42.4 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 85.7% (22nd lowest)

6. Oregon

• Electricity from renewables: 73.1% (45.9 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 62.7 million MWh (25th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (38.3 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 28.1% (8th lowest)

5. Maine

• Electricity from renewables: 74.8% (8.4 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 11.3 million MWh (7th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (3.4 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 6.1% (4th lowest)

4. South Dakota

• Electricity from renewables: 75.1% (8.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 10.9 million MWh (6th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (5.3 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 167.9% (17th highest)

3. Washington

• Electricity from renewables: 78.5% (91.0 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 115.9 million MWh (11th highest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (82.2 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 10.2% (6th lowest)

2. Idaho

• Electricity from renewables: 81.8% (14.2 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 17.4 million MWh (8th lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (10.7 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 47.0% (15th lowest)

1. Vermont

• Electricity from renewables: 99.6% (2.1 million MWh)

• Total electricity generation: 2.1 million MWh (the lowest)

• Largest renewable energy source: Hydroelectric (1.3 million MWh)

• 10 yr. renewable energy growth: 92.1% (24th lowest)