State Energy Leaders
The top five energy-producing states provide about half the nation’s energy. Texas, Wyoming, Louisiana, West Virginia and Kentucky produce 36,100 trillion Btu of the U.S.-produced 72,640 trillion Btu. Texas is a leader in several energy resources, while Wyoming leads in coal production.
Renewed Interest in Renewable Energy
The past decade has seen a vibrant interest in renewable energy generation across the states. In 2011, Maine had the highest percentage of non-hydroelectric renewable generation, at 27 percent of total in-state generation, up from 20 percent in 2001, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. South Dakota and Iowa followed, with 21 percent and 17 percent, respectively, in 2011, up from 1 percent and less than 1 percent in 2001. Wind is the largest driver of this increase across all states. Only Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky and Ohio still have less than 1 percent of their energy generated by renewable resources.
When hydroelectric power is included, Idaho leads the pack of states with the largest shares of generation coming from renewables with 93 percent. Washington’s generation of power from renewables, including hydro, stood at 82 percent in 2011, followed by Oregon at 78 percent. The Pacific Northwest produced a particularly high amount of hydroelectric power in 2011.
Total Energy Production, 2009
