This post originally appeared on Modernize.com where you can find comprehensive solar information
from industry experts.
America’s energy policy has been the subject of much recent debate: From the Pope’s public advocacy of
environmental stewardship to the EPA’s toughened regulations on pollution from petroleum refineries, the
sources that power our society have rarely been so widely scrutinized. Once regarded as a subject best left to
the energy sector, the way we fuel our economy has proven its relevance for all citizens, both in America and
across the globe.
For our team at Modernize, this subject seems particularly important. We’re dedicated to providing consumers
information and opportunities related to one of clean energy’s most promising technologies: solar panels. Our
primary interest is in helping individual readers to find environmentally friendly solar options that generate
wallet-friendly savings in the long run.
But we’re also paying attention to how whole swaths of the American energy landscape operate. That’s where
our project “America’s Cleanest and Dirtiest Energy States” comes in. If you want to know your state’s energy
track record or find out which states are leading (and trailing) the push for renewables, you’re going to want to
read what comes next.
Our Methodology
For this project, we went straight to the most authoritative source available on America’s energy realities. We
gathered data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the federal agency responsible for
tracking stats related to America’s energy production and consumption. Lucky for us, they’ve got data dating
back to 1960 and as recent as 2013, so we took the long view on each state’s energy legacy. Our work engaged
a range of subjects, from total energy production from renewable sources to carbon dioxide emissions over
time. Take a look at what we found out:
Not Everything is Bigger in Texas…
Let’s get something straight: “Renewable” energy sources run the gamut from hydropower to wind, solar, and
more. The EIA includes biofuels, such as ethanol, in this category as well. That means that virtually any state
can tap into renewables, though some types are more readily utilized in certain natural environments (for
instance, the Midwest makes good use of its wind). But that also means oil- and coal-rich states like Texas and
West Virginia have historically focused their efforts on sourcing energy from “fossil” fuels, so their output
from renewables is relatively paltry.
And here are the top 10 producers of total energy from renewables:
Maybe Washington, California, and Oregon come as no surprise – we associate them with environmental
concern and the geographical variety to embrace multiple renewable technologies simultaneously. But the rest
of the states that top the renewables ranking embody a striking mix of size, population, political preference,
and socioeconomic standing. If this ranking indicates anything, it’s that success with renewables is possible in
any combination of circumstances.
Power Percentages
Now we know the score when it comes to the total volume of energy produced from renewables by state. But
some states produce plenty of both, while others have pristine clean-energy records but fall short of the top 10
because their total production is too small to compete. So we also looked at how much of each state’s total
energy production renewables account for – call these our Percentage Power Rankings:
Yes, you read that right: Rhode Island, Idaho, Hawaii, Delaware, and D.C. produce virtually all of their energy
from renewable sources. Sure, that might be different if these states had been dealt a different hand in the
distribution of natural resources (no one’s begging to drill outside Newport), but we can appreciate their
commitment to renewable energy all the same. After all, necessity is the mother of invention – and as time
goes on, more and more states may find themselves in need.
Then there’s the cohort above, all of whom derived less than 2.5% of all the energy they produce from
renewable sources from 1960–2013. The difference in reliance on renewables couldn’t be starker: Wyoming’s
renewable portfolio accounts for roughly one in every 250 BTUs (British Thermal Units – oddly, no longer
commonly used in the U.K.) that the state produces. Many of the constituents of this dirtiest energy ranking are
too rich in coal and oil to need much in the way of renewable alternatives – but that doesn’t mean they won’t
adopt more sustainable technologies in the coming years.
Pollution and Solutions
Perhaps the most concerning byproduct of fossil fuel energy production is pollution. That term covers many
kinds of potentially harmful emissions, but the best-known variety is carbon dioxide. The EIA offers carbon
dioxide data from 1990–2012, so we’ve tracked the worst emissions offenders over that time:
Predictably, Texas is at the top – but what about California or New York? Why do states that ranked high in
renewable energy production make the list? The answer is simple: Carbon dioxide emissions aren’t just a
function of energy production. It’s no accident that the top-ranked states are almost all quite populous; the
more people, the more energy they consume. That translates to emissions resulting from cars, heat, and other
comforts modern Americans depend upon in daily life. But don’t think emissions are an intransigent evil:
Some states are making great strides.
Let’s take a moment to commend these states for what they’ve accomplished in just 22 years. New York,
Michigan, and Ohio are particularly exciting cases, demonstrating that even states closely associated with
major industry can reduce emissions substantially. Additionally, some of the states that ranked high in the
percentage of energy generated from renewables appear on this list, making it clear that improvement can
always be a priority, whatever you accomplish for the environment.
Speaking of improvement, let’s remember that your own home can contribute to the pursuit of new, clean
technologies, no matter which state you live in. Whether it’s turning off the light when you walk out of a
room or researching solar options that will also create savings, you can do a lot to promote a cleaner energy
world. Who knows? If you and enough of your neighbors make the right choices, your state might just jump up
on our cleanest states ranking!
