To determine renewable energy production by state, we analyzed net energy generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and represented megawatt hours in thousands.
Solar popularity varies by state because of factors like the average cost of solar, the number of available installers in an area, and state incentives and tax credits. It may not
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.
Solar irradiance is highest in the southern and western regions of the United States, making it an ideal region for solar farms. However, across the country, photovoltaic
Find out which states are leading the way in solar electricity generation, and why they''re doing so well while some other states fail to meet their potential.
In 2024, the United States produced a record amount of energy, according to data in our Monthly Energy Review. U.S. total energy production was more than 103 quadrillion
To determine renewable energy production by state, we analyzed net energy generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and represented
The following table ranks the best and worst states for solar energy production (shown in thousand megawatt-hours) in April and May, number 1 represents the best state for
In 2023 the five states that generated the lowest percentage from solar were ND, WV, OK, AK, and SD at 0.01%, 0.09%, 0.27%, 0.28% and 0.29%, respectively. The
Hawaii Quick Facts Despite having the third-lowest total energy consumption among the states, Hawaii uses 16 times more energy than it produces. In 2024, about 33% of
Solar energy production is measured in megawatt-hours, with Nevada having the most installed 230. 51 MW of solar energy per 100, 000 residents. California leads the way in total solar generation, producing over 68,
To rank the states from most to least eco-friendly, we compared factors such as the percentage of energy produced from renewable sources, carbon emission rates, waste recycling measures and other
Solar energy is renewable and plentiful. As the cost of using solar to produce electricity goes down each year, many Americans are increasingly switching to solar. Now, there are over a
The five states that generated the lowest percentage of electricity generation from solar power in 2023 were North Dakota, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Alaska, and South
Arkansas consumes nearly 60% more energy than it produces, and its per capita energy consumption ranks among the top one-third of the states. 18, 19 The industrial sector, which includes agriculture, accounts about
The researchers also calculated the year-over-year change in total solar energy production from 2018–2019, as well as what percentage of total energy production and renewable energy
Humans have been using solar energy for centuries and first produced solar-powered electricity in the United States in 1954. Currently, solar energy can generate electricity in two ways: solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar
California is the second-largest total energy consumer among the states, after Texas, but its per capita energy consumption is the third-lowest in the nation. In 2024,
Vermont, Idaho and Washington are the US states that have the greenest energy. The state of Vermont produces 99.6% of its energy from renewable sources, the state of Idaho 81.6 and Washington 80%. On the other
Find out which states are leading the way in solar electricity generation, and why they''re doing so well while some other states fail to meet their potential.
Bonus data points The other leading states on this measure — Vermont, Washington, and Idaho — all derive the majority of their renewable energy from hydropower. Texas produces the most renewable energy of any
The renewable energy boom is accelerating in Australia, and across the world. State and territory governments are leading Australia''s electricity transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and storage.
Solar power is clean, green, inexpensive, and renewable energy that is produced when sunlight strikes human-made solar cells and is subsequently converted into electricity. Solar power is
The five states that generated the lowest percentage of electricity generation from solar power in 2023 were North Dakota, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
California is the best state overall for solar energy, while West Virginia is the worst. Many states fall somewhere in between for many different reasons, including cost, the number of solar jobs
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.
In 2024, 12 U.S. states generated more than 30% of their electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal (the 10 shown above, plus Minnesota and Nebraska). For the first year ever, three states (Iowa, South Dakota, and
This is a list of U.S. states by total electricity generation, percent of generation that is renewable, total renewable generation, percent of total domestic renewable generation, [1] and carbon
California is second in the nation, after Texas, in total electricity generation from renewable resources. The state is the nation''s top producer of electricity from solar energy and
Arizona ranks among the top five states in the nation in total solar-powered generating capacity from both utility- and small-scale installations, with nearly 9,000 megawatts. Per capita energy consumption in Arizona is less
Massachusetts consumes 25 times more energy than it produces, but it is among the five states with the lowest per capita energy consumption. 7, 8 Massachusetts
Alaska also has the second-lowest number of solar installations and the third-lowest number of homes powered by solar energy in the nation. Alaska has the lowest number of solar jobs, with 10.09 jobs per 100,000 residents. Alaska has the second lowest amount of solar installations, with 4.09 MW of solar installed per 100,000 residents.
The state with the most solar-powered homes: Nevada has 426 homes per 1000 households powered by solar. Most affordable state for solar energy: Hawaii solar installation costs account for 12.40% of the state’s median household income. 1. California California came in as the best state for solar energy for good reason.
California once again takes first place among the top states generating electricity from solar power this month. The Golden State produced 23.2% of the United States’ total of 35,440 thousand megawatt-hours, according to ChooseEnergy.com’s July 2025 solar energy generation report.
The state ranks the lowest for solar jobs, with only 10 jobs per 100,000 residents. Alaska also has the second-lowest number of solar installations and the third-lowest number of homes powered by solar energy in the nation. Alaska has the lowest number of solar jobs, with 10.09 jobs per 100,000 residents.
California is one of the best states for solar in the USA right now, with a high adoption rate and a high solar interest. It has over 32,394 MW of installed solar capacity and can power more than 8.4 million homes with renewable energy. Texas is the second-best state for solar power.
Alabama, Alaska, New Hampshire, and North Dakota did not report solar energy production in April 2025. Solar energy is just one component of a state’s monthly total electricity generation. States produce power from a variety of sources, including solar energy. Other common energy sources include coal, natural gas, nuclear, and wind power.
