Which States Use the Most Renewable Energy… And How They Made it Happen

Which state gets 13 percent of its power from renewable sources?

California. By 2007 California utilities were getting 13 percent of their electricity from renewable sources according to the most recent figure at the CPUC. Actually, the RPS requirements are for utilities to get 20% by 2010, but approval problems related to the transmission grid are making that goal a bit of a stretch though here’s no shortage of announced mega deals for solar farms in the desert with California utilities.

By contrast, the 2007 California Solar Initiative is on target to easily exceed its 10 year goal of getting 3,000 MW of solar onto the grid; just using individual rooftops. No new transmission lines are needed and it is funded with $3.3 billion in incentives (in a sliding scale based on actual electricity production) to ease the upfront cost to homeowners and businesses.

Image: flikr user jimthatcher

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8 Responses to “Which States Use the Most Renewable Energy… And How They Made it Happen”

  1. For Base-Load Wind Cheaper than Fossil Fuels: CAES : CleanTechnica Says:

    [...] The concept has been proven. The Alabama Electric Cooperative in Alabama now has 20 years of experience with a 100 megawatt CAES system. A major new project is being backed by the DOE in Iowa, which gets 15% of its electricity from wind. [...]

  2. 76% of Cap and Trade Bill Allowances Benefit People, Not Polluters : CleanTechnica Says:

    [...] more highly regulated under the bill than now. Business as usual would end. Like utilities in the Renewable Portfolio Standards states do now, they would have to buy more renewable energy like solar and wind. They would not be able to [...]

  3. US Farm Recycles Wind Turbines From Denmark and Germany : CleanTechnica Says:

    [...] Iowa leads the US in the percentage of wind power on the grid. The local utility companies pay area farmers royalties of $3,000–5,000 per year so huge wind turbines can share their vast farmland acreage and feed the power to the grid. The arrangement has been so successful that 15% of Iowa’s power now comes from wind. [...]

  4. JoJo Says:

    These Iowa turbines are really cool. I drive by them about 6 times a year and its pretty awe inspiring. They are right next to the interstate between Omaha and Des Moines and are freaking HUGE! They are out there away from the cities and don’t bother anyone but they look surreal at dusk.

  5. Biggest Wind Farm in World — in Texas : CleanTechnica Says:

    [...] Articles: 1) Which States Use the Most Renewable Energy… And How They Made it Happen 1) International Wind Power Business Acquisition — Confidence in the US 2) Renewable Energy on [...]

  6. US Navy to Cut Greenhouse Emissions 50% By As Early As 2015 (!) Says:

    [...] the Navy uses 17% renewable energy (about like Iowa and even better than California), but they plan on achieving a faster reduction and a much tougher goal that that [...]

  7. 3 Reasons for Hope for Hopenhagen : CleanTechnica Says:

    [...] Timely Stick: Ruling CO2 a Public Danger Before Copenhagen Climate Decision : CleanTechnica on Which States Use the Most Renewable Energy… And How They Made it HappenNanofarming Offers a Kinder, Gentler Way to Get Biofuel from Algae : CleanTechnica on Biodiesel [...]

  8. Siemens to Test Six Minute Charging For EVs on 33% Wind Powered Grid : Gas 2.0 Says:

    [...] entirely by renewable energy functions when the proportion of electric vehicles increases. Iowa is 15% wind powered and Fox Island off of Maine is 100% wind powered. That would be a good site for the [...]

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