Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal don’t produce greenhouse gases when generating electricity. This can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and slow the pace of climate change. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the 25 states have the lowest percentage of electricity generation from renewable resources as of 2022.
West Virginia: 1.02%
The dominant energy source in West Virginia is coal, accounting for 89% of electricity generation. This is mainly due to the state’s rich coal reserves and legacy coal-fired power plants. While West Virginia has potential for some renewables like wind and solar, the geography and land use pose challenges for large-scale development compared to other states.
Wyoming: 2.45%
Wyoming’s electricity generation relies heavily on coal, making transitioning to renewables a complex task. The initial costs of transitioning to renewables and potential job losses in the coal industry require careful planning and economic diversification strategies. Federal initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act offer renewable energy development and adoption incentives, which could further spur advancements in Wyoming.
Mississippi: 2.62%
Most of Mississippi’s energy comes from natural gas, accounting for around 76%, followed by nuclear power at 17%. Unlike some states with more varied renewable resources, Mississippi’s landscape and climate offer less potential for specific renewable sources like wind, further limiting its options.
Arkansas: 4.20%
Unlike many states, Arkansas has no Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that mandates utilities to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. This leaves the development of renewables mainly to market forces.
Kentucky: 4.24%
Most of Kentucky’s energy comes from coal, accounting for 92%. This heavy reliance on coal significantly contributes to its low renewable energy consumption.
Louisiana: 4.35%
Louisiana has abundant natural gas reserves and extensive infrastructure, making it readily available and cheaper than most renewables. This incentivizes its continued use.
Alabama: 4.45%
Alabama currently boasts the fifth-largest nuclear power generating capacity in the U.S., contributing significantly to its energy mix. While not a renewable source, nuclear power offers lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels. This historical investment in nuclear has impacted the development of other renewable sources.
Tennessee: 5.74%
Although Tennessee has hydroelectric power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), it cannot rapidly expand this source due to environmental concerns and land limitations. While Tennessee has potential for wind and solar energy, factors like terrain, cloud cover, and land use present challenges for large-scale development compared to other states.
Oklahoma: 7.22%
Oklahoma produces much more electricity than it consumes, making it a net exporter to neighboring states. This surplus, primarily renewable energy from wind, often goes out of state, which needs to be reflected in internal consumption figures.
Missouri: 7.30%
Investing in renewable energy projects can be initially expensive, which can be a barrier for individuals and businesses in the state compared to cheaper options like coal. However, Recent federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provide tax credits and incentives for renewable energy development, which could offer opportunities for Missouri.
Indiana: 7.79%
Indiana’s rich coal history and abundant reserves create powerful resistance to shifting towards cleaner energy sources. There is, however, increasing public awareness and demand for renewable energy in Indiana, putting pressure on policymakers and businesses to consider cleaner options.
South Carolina: 8.74%
South Carolina possesses the third-largest nuclear power capacity in the U.S., significantly contributing to its energy mix. While nuclear power is not considered renewable, it offers lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels. This historical investment in nuclear has impacted the development of other renewable sources within the state.
Kansas: 8.84%
While Kansas has potential for solar energy, factors like cloud cover and land use pose challenges for large-scale development compared to states with more ideal conditions. Integrating large-scale renewable energy into the grid requires upgrades in transmission infrastructure, which can be costly and time-consuming.
Virginia: 9.39%
While Virginia has made progress with clean energy initiatives, it lacks a vital Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) like some other states. This means utilities have yet to be mandated to increase their renewable energy generation as quickly as possible, impacting consumption within the state.
Texas: 10.33%
Texas boasts the country’s highest wind energy generation capacity, accounting for roughly 47% of its total electricity generation. Solar energy also shows promising growth. However, a significant portion of this generated renewable energy gets exported to neighboring states, contributing to their energy mix but not reflected in Texas’ internal consumption figures.
Georgia: 11.54%
Consumption within Georgia is even lower, primarily due to reliance on nuclear power (45%) and natural gas (35%). Lack of firm RPS policy, limited renewable resource potential, dependence on established sources, and cost considerations.
North Carolina: 12.30%
North Carolina still heavily relies on fossil fuels like coal (66%) and natural gas (16%) for electricity generation. These established sources offer cheaper and readily available options, creating significant inertia against shifting towards renewables.
Maryland: 12.40%
While some clean energy initiatives exist, they have yet to translate into a robust and consistent policy framework for large-scale renewable deployment. This creates uncertainty and hinders investment.
Delaware: 13.71%
Delaware relies heavily on natural gas for electricity generation, accounting for 86%. Established infrastructure and lower costs of this source present a significant barrier to transitioning to renewables.
Ohio: 14.25%
Ohio heavily relies on coal for electricity generation, contributing a staggering 92%. The established infrastructure and lower costs of coal create a significant barrier to transitioning to renewables.
Pennsylvania: 14.27%
Pennsylvania heavily relies on fossil fuels for energy, with coal contributing 53% and natural gas contributing 29%. These sources’ established infrastructure and lower costs create a significant barrier to transitioning to renewables.
Nevada: 14.28%
Interestingly, Nevada generates a substantial amount of renewable energy, primarily from geothermal and solar, but a significant portion of this gets exported to neighboring states like California. This limits the impact of internally generated renewables on Nevada’s consumption figures.
Illinois: 15.51%
Despite renewable potential, Illinois still heavily relies on coal (21%) and natural gas (13%) for electricity generation. These sources’ established infrastructure and lower costs create a barrier to transitioning to renewables.
New York: 15.84%
While New York has an ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 70% by 2030, it’s a relatively recent target. Previously, weaker policy incentives slowed down the adoption of renewables. Upgrades in transmission infrastructure are underway to overcome hurdles in integrating large-scale renewables into the grid.
Florida: 16.53%
Although not a renewable source, nuclear power accounts for about 11% of Florida’s electricity. This established source contributes to the overall dependence on non-renewable options. While public interest in renewable energy is growing in Florida, it has yet to be widespread enough to create significant pressure on policymakers and businesses to prioritize sustainable solutions.
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