Colorado is No. 17 on list of states producing most power from renewables

Monday April 24, 2017 0 comments Tags: wind energy, renewable energy

COLORADO -- Colorado ranks No. 17 on the list of states that produce the most electricity from renewables such as solar and wind, according to a study by 24/7 Wall St.

According to the report, Colorado gets 18 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources, mostly from wind generation.

The state’s 10-year renewable energy growth was 250.8 percent, the 10^th-highest growth in the nation during the period.

Vermont was ranked No.1 on the list with 99.8 percent of its electricity generated by renewable energy sources.

According to the report, the Top 10 states for electricity generated from renewables are:

• 1—Vermont (99.8 percent)
• 2—South Dakota (76.3 percent)
• 3—Washington (75.5 percent)
• 4—Idaho (74.7 percent)
• 5—Oregon (67.7 percent)
• 6—Maine (66.5 percent)
• 7—Montana (40.5 percent)
• 8—Iowa (33.7 percent)
• 9—California (30.1 percent)
• 10—Alaska (28.4 percent)

To view the entire report, click here. 

While U.S. crude oil and natural gas production fell last year, energy production from renewable sources -- geothermal, hydro, solar, biomass, wind, wood, and wood-derived fuels -- increased significantly. Current renewable energy production varies widely by geography.

For reference, 13.3% of electricity generated nationwide comes from renewable sources.

Based on 24/7 Wall St. analysis of data from the Energy Information Administration, Vermont leads the nation with 99.8% of electricity production accounted for by renewable sources. Delaware produces the least renewable energy as a percentage of its total electricity generation, at just 1.7%.

States have plenty of renewable energy options to choose from. Hydroelectric dams are the largest renewable source in 22 states; wind turbines generate the largest share of renewable energy in 16 states.

To identify the states using the most renewable energy, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percentage of electricity generated by renewable energy sources in each state in 2015. Renewable energy sources are defined as geothermal, conventional hydroelectric, solar, biomass, wind, and wood and wood derived fuels.

All data came from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).