In the course of writing my book, “FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey”, I thought it was important to incorporate the development of renewable energy. In my analysis, it was clear that more and more states (Republican and Democrat) were moving from fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas) to renewable energy (hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) for electrical power.
In my opinion, the following states have excelled at developing reliable, cost effective renewable energy programs:
1) Texas – #1 State in Onshore Wind
a. Annual Renewable Production 70,476 MWh/Year (15.7% Electricity)
b. Renewable Energy Programs Onshore Wind & Solar
c. Mean Residential Electricity Cost 11.24 Cents/kWh (14th Lowest State)
2) Oklahoma – #3 State in Onshore Wind
a) Annual Renewable Production 29,112 MWh/Year (39.2% Electricity)
b) Renewable Energy Programs Onshore Wind, Biomass & Solar
c) Mean Residential Electricity Cost 11.01 Cents/kWh (11th Lowest State)
3) Iowa – #2 State in Onshore Wind
a) Annual Renewable Production 25,560 MWh/Year (41.7% Electricity)
b) Renewable Energy Programs Onshore Wind, Biomass & Solar
c) Mean Residential Electricity Cost 12.08 Cents/kWh (22nd Lowest State)
4) California – #1 State in Solar & Geothermal
a. Annual Renewable Production 66,408 MWh/Year (37.0% Electricity)
b. Renewable Energy Programs Solar, Geothermal & Onshore Wind
c. Mean Residential Electricity Cost 15.37 Cents/kWh (42nd Lowest State)
5) New Jersey – #5 State in Solar
1) Annual Renewable Production 1,752 MWh/Year (2.2% Electricity)
2) Renewable Energy Programs Onshore/Offshore Wind & Solar
3) Mean Residential Electricity Cost 14.70 Cents/kWh (39th Lowest State)
My ranking was based on the growth rate of renewable energy, quantity of renewable energy and electricity cost. The Republican states of Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa have aggressively developed wind and solar energy over the past ten years. California has aggressively pursued renewable energy since the 1973 Oil Embargo. I did mark down California due to the high cost of electricity. The new governor of New Jersey is aggressively pursuing multiple renewable energy programs to offset the loss of nuclear power plants which will be retired over the next decade. In my opinion, New Jersey is showing exemplary leadership in the development of offshore wind projects.
Unfortunately, states in the southern and northwestern United States have done little to develop undeveloped renewable energy resources. The northwestern states of Oregon and Washington do have significant hydropower power plants, that were developed in the 1940s and 1950s. However, Oregon and Washing have done little to develop the states abundant renewable energy resources of onshore wind, offshore wind, geothermal and hydropower. “Progressive” leaders in Oregon and Washington are apparently not progressive at all.