Which States Produce the Most Renewable Energy?

Countries around the world are increasing renewable energy production to mitigate climate change. In the U.S., renewable energy production has nearly tripled over the past decade, and the Biden administration has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030.

However, progress on renewable energy varies from state to state. Some states get more than half their power from renewables, while others get only a few percent. Here are the latest statistics on renewable energy use by state, including how much they produce and energy industry goals for states that have them.

Key findings

Key findings

• Iowa uses the highest percentage of renewable energy, with 60% of its energy consumption coming from renewables.
• Kentucky uses the lowest percentage of renewable energy, with less than 1% of its energy consumption coming from renewables.
• Texas produces the most renewable energy (measured in megawatt-hours) of any state.
• Several states have committed to using only carbon-free power over the next few decades.

Production by state

Renewable energy production by state

The map and table below shows the amount of renewable energy each state produced over the most recent one-year period on record at the time of writing (the fourth quarter of 2022 through the third quarter of 2023). It also shows the percentage of each state's total power that came from renewable energy sources.

Types of renewable energy

States also vary in the types of renewable energy they produce. For example, California's biggest renewable energy source is solar energy. Texas, on the other hand, is known for wind energy.

In the tables below, you'll also see "wood and wood-derived fuels," which are usually the byproducts of lumber and paper milling. "Other biomass" includes other plant-derived materials, including agricultural crops and waste, materials from municipal solid waste, animal manure, and human waste.

You may notice that we haven't included hydroelectric power in these tables despite it being a notable renewable energy source that provides about 7% of the power in the U.S. However, while hydro is renewable, there's debate over whether it's sustainable. Because of this and the fact that the U.S. Energy Information Administration lists hydro separately from other renewables, we've opted to omit it from these statistics.

Ranking states by renewable energy production

Renewable energy production by state

Let's take a closer look at every state, where they rank for renewable energy use, and their largest renewable energy sources.

Editor’s note: Energy generation data is sourced from the Energy Information Administration. The breakdowns by source may not add up to renewable energy generation totals for each state.

Alabama's renewable energy production

Alabama produced 4,206 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 3.0% of its total electricity, which ranked 42nd.

Alaska's renewable energy production

Alaska produced 136 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 2.0% of its total electricity, which was tied for 47th.

Arizona's renewable energy production

Arizona produced 9,108 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 8.3% of its total electricity, which ranked 31st.

Arkansas's renewable energy production

Arkansas produced 1,459 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 2.4% of its total electricity, which ranked 44th.

California's renewable energy production

California produced 69,947 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 32.7% of its total electricity, which ranked 11th.

California has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.

Colorado's renewable energy production

Colorado produced 19,394 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 34.1% of its total electricity, which ranked ninth.

Colorado has made a pledge of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.

Connecticut's renewable energy production

Connecticut produced 840 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 2.0% of its total electricity, which was tied for 47th.

Connecticut has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

Delaware's renewable energy production

Delaware produced 223 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 4.3% of its total electricity, which ranked 38th.

Delaware has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030 and by 100% by 2050.

Florida's renewable energy production

Florida produced 17,162 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 6.6% of its total electricity, which ranked 34th.

Georgia's renewable energy production

Georgia produced 12,770 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 9.8% of its total electricity, which ranked 27th.

Hawaii's renewable energy production

Hawaii produced 1,864 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 19.6% of its total electricity, which ranked 18th.

Hawaii has set a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Idaho's renewable energy production

Idaho produced 3,659 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 23.3% of its total electricity, which ranked 15th.

Illinois's renewable energy production

Illinois produced 24,398 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 13.7% of its total electricity, which ranked 22nd.

Illinois has set a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Indiana's renewable energy production

Indiana produced 11,531 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 12.5% of its total electricity, which ranked 23rd.

Iowa's renewable energy production

Iowa produced 43,547 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 60.4% of its total electricity, which ranked first.

Kansas's renewable energy production

Kansas produced 26,999 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 46.7% of its total electricity, which ranked third.

Kentucky's renewable energy production

Kentucky produced 561 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 0.9% of its total electricity, which ranked 50th.

Louisiana's renewable energy production

Louisiana produced 2,230 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 2.3% of its total electricity, which ranked 45th.

Louisiana has set a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Maine's renewable energy production

Maine produced 4,730 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 41.5% of its total electricity, which ranked seventh.

Maine has set a goal of 100% clean energy by 2050.

Maryland's renewable energy production

Maryland produced 1,710 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 4.8% of its total electricity, which ranked 36th.

Maryland has set a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Massachusetts's renewable energy production

Massachusetts produced 3,038 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 16.0% of its total electricity, which ranked 20th.

Massachusetts has set a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Michigan's renewable energy production

Michigan produced 12,067 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 9.9% of its total electricity, which ranked 26th.

Michigan has set a goal of economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2040.

Minnesota's renewable energy production

Minnesota produced 17,903 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 30.7% of its total electricity, which ranked 13th.

Minnesota has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

Mississippi's renewable energy production

Mississippi produced 1,838 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 2.5% of its total electricity, which ranked 43rd.

Missouri's renewable energy production

Missouri produced 7,277 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 10.4% of its total electricity, which ranked 24th.

Montana's renewable energy production

Montana produced 4,668 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 18.0% of its total electricity, which ranked 19th.

Nebraska's renewable energy production

Nebraska produced 12,644 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 31.7% of its total electricity, which ranked 12th.

Nebraska is the only state that's served solely by publicly owned utilities. There are three public utilities in Nebraska, and they've all set a goal of net-zero carbon emissions from generation resources. The Nebraska Public Power District and the Omaha Public Power District plan to accomplish this goal by 2050, and the Lincoln Public Power District plans to do it by 2040.

Nevada's renewable energy production

Nevada produced 14,070 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 33.3% of its total electricity, which ranked 10th.

Nevada has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

New Hampshire's renewable energy production

New Hampshire produced 1,216 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 7.4% of its total electricity, which ranked 32nd.

New Jersey's renewable energy production

New Jersey produced 2,222 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 3.5% of its total electricity, which ranked 40th.

New Jersey has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035.

New Mexico's renewable energy production

New Mexico produced 17,711 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 43.3% of its total electricity, which ranked fifth.

New Mexico has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.

New York's renewable energy production

New York produced 8,916 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 7.2% of its total electricity, which ranked 33rd.

New York has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

North Carolina's renewable energy production

North Carolina produced 13,394 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 10.2% of its total electricity, which ranked 25th.

North Carolina has set a goal of carbon neutrality in the electricity sector by 2050.

North Dakota's renewable energy production

North Dakota produced 14,554 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 35.6% of its total electricity, which ranked eighth.

Ohio's renewable energy production

Ohio produced 4,412 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 3.4% of its total electricity, which ranked 41st.

Oklahoma's renewable energy production

Oklahoma produced 37,360 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 41.9% of its total electricity, which ranked sixth.

Oregon's renewable energy production

Oregon produced 11,779 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 19.7% of its total electricity, which ranked 17th.

Oregon has set a goal to have greenhouse gas emissions reduced 100% below baseline emissions by 2040.

Pennsylvania's renewable energy production

Pennsylvania produced 5,352 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 2.2% of its total electricity, which ranked 46th.

Rhode Island's renewable energy production

Rhode Island produced 804 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 9.7% of its total electricity, which ranked 28th.

Rhode Island has set a goal of 100% renewable energy electricity by 2033.

South Carolina's renewable energy production

South Carolina produced 4,549 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 4.6% of its total electricity, which ranked 37th.

South Dakota's renewable energy production

South Dakota produced 9,472 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 57.1% of its total electricity, which ranked second.

Tennessee's renewable energy production

Tennessee produced 1,365 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 1.8% of its total electricity, which ranked 49th.

Texas's renewable energy production

Texas produced 146,004 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 27.1% of its total electricity, which ranked 14th.

Utah's renewable energy production

Utah produced 5,183 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 14.5% of its total electricity, which ranked 21st.

Vermont's renewable energy production

Vermont produced 933 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 44.7% of its total electricity, which ranked fourth.

Virginia's renewable energy production

Virginia produced 8,443 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 9.2% of its total electricity, which tied for 29th.

Virginia requires zero-carbon utilities by 2050.

Washington's renewable energy production

Washington produced 9,209 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 8.9% of its total electricity, which ranked 30th.

Washington requires 100% zero-emissions electricity by 2045.

West Virginia's renewable energy production

West Virginia produced 2,090 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 4.0% of its total electricity, which ranked 39th.

Wisconsin's renewable energy production

Wisconsin produced 4,022 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 6.4% of its total electricity, which ranked 35th.

Wisconsin has set a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

Wyoming's renewable energy production

Wyoming produced 9,248 thousand megawatt hours of electricity using renewable energy sources. That made up 21.1% of its total electricity, which ranked 16th.

Related topics in energy

Renewables are on the rise

While production levels vary from state to state, as a whole, the U.S. is getting more of its energy from renewable sources. That trend should continue since the Inflation Reduction Act provides $369 billion for clean energy investments. There are also more states setting their own clean energy goals, so production of renewable energy should continue to increase going forward.

Sources

• Clean Energy States Alliance (2023). "Table of 100% Clean Energy States."
• U.S. Energy Information Administration (2023). "Electricity Data Browser."