Multiple Sources · 51 states
States With Most Renewable Energy
The transition to renewable energy is reshaping America's electricity landscape. Hydroelectric power remains the backbone in the Pacific Northwest, while wind dominates the Great Plains and solar grows fastest in the Sun Belt. States with high renewable percentages benefit from lower and more stable prices because they are less exposed to fossil fuel volatility. The economic benefits extend to jobs: solar and wind now employ more Americans than coal, oil, and gas extraction combined. States competing for clean energy investment offer tax incentives and renewable portfolio standards.
Key Findings
- 1Vermont leads with a renewable energy percentage of 99.8%, followed by South Dakota (81.6%) and Washington (69.5%).
- 2The gap between #1 Vermont and #51 Connecticut (3.1%) is 9670.0 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 16.3% (Arizona at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Vermont, South Dakota, Washington, Idaho, Iowa, Oregon, Montana, Maine, Kansas, California.
Full Ranking: States With Most Renewable Energy
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Renewable % | Wind % | Solar % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 25.6 | 22.1 | 1 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 12.3 | 3.1 | 4.4 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 7 | 4 | 0.4 |
| 4 | Washington | 69.5 | 8.7 | 0.4 |
| 5 | Virginia | 11.4 | 0 | 6.8 |
| 6 | Vermont | 99.8 | 15.7 | 9.6 |
| 7 | Utah | 20.9 | 2.1 | 15.1 |
| 8 | Texas | 29.4 | 21.9 | 7.2 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 13.8 | 0 | 1.4 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 81.6 | 57.8 | 1.6 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 7.1 | 0 | 2.9 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 10 | 1.8 | 6.1 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| 14 | Oregon | 61.4 | 14.7 | 3.1 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 42.7 | 40.4 | 0.3 |
| 16 | Ohio | 5.3 | 2 | 2.8 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 39.5 | 34.7 | 0 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 13.8 | 0.4 | 8.8 |
| 19 | New York | 30 | 4.7 | 2.4 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 49.4 | 38.1 | 10.8 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 3.8 | 0 | 2.7 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 14.9 | 2.6 | 0 |
| 23 | Nevada | 40.2 | 0.7 | 27.4 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 35.9 | 31.9 | 0.5 |
| 25 | Montana | 57.4 | 21.6 | 1.4 |
| 26 | Missouri | 12.1 | 10.2 | 0.3 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 4.3 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 32.6 | 25.2 | 3.9 |
| 29 | Michigan | 12 | 7.9 | 1.5 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 19.6 | 0.8 | 10.2 |
| 31 | Maryland | 10.7 | 1.6 | 2.9 |
| 32 | Maine | 53.8 | 16.7 | 6.4 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 4.1 | 0 | 1.2 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 7.1 | 0 | 0.4 |
| 35 | Kansas | 52 | 51.6 | 0.2 |
| 36 | Iowa | 65.5 | 62.8 | 0.9 |
| 37 | Indiana | 14.4 | 10.6 | 3.2 |
| 38 | Illinois | 15.3 | 13.5 | 1.7 |
| 39 | Idaho | 68.3 | 15.1 | 5.1 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 21.2 | 7.2 | 7.7 |
| 41 | Georgia | 12.5 | 0 | 6.6 |
| 42 | Florida | 8.2 | 0 | 7 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 46.8 | 0 | 16.9 |
| 44 | Delaware | 4.4 | 0.1 | 3.5 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 3.1 | 0 | 1.1 |
| 46 | Colorado | 41.3 | 29.9 | 8.4 |
| 47 | California | 50.8 | 7.3 | 22.6 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 10.2 | 0 | 3.8 |
| 49 | Arizona | 16.3 | 2.2 | 9.3 |
| 50 | Alaska | 28.2 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| 51 | Alabama | 9 | 0 | 0.9 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Vermont has the highest renewable energy percentage at 99.8%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. South Dakota and Washington round out the top three.
Connecticut has the lowest renewable energy percentage at 3.1%. Pennsylvania is second-lowest at 3.5%.
The median across all 51 states is 16.3%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.