America's solar and wind energy hotspots, mapped
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California, Texas and Florida are leading the country in terms of solar power generation, while Texas, Iowa and Oklahoma are the leaders in wind energy, per a new analysis.
Why it matters: Solar and wind power are producing a comparatively small but growing share of America's overall energy supply — yet they make up a bigger slice of the energy pie in some states compared to others.
The big picture: Solar installations generated nearly 240,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity across the U.S. in 2023, per the analysis from Climate Central, a climate research nonprofit.
- That's up 8X compared to 2014, the group says.
- Wind generation hit about 425,000 GWh last year — double that of a decade ago.
Context: "Together, these two renewable energy sources generated enough electricity in 2023 to power the equivalent of more than 61 million average American homes," per Climate Central.
Zoom in: In California, 68,816 GWh of electricity came from solar power in 2023, up 9% from 2022.
- Texas solar installations generated 31,739 GWh (up 25% from 2022), while Florida produced 17,809 GWh (up 33%).
Meanwhile, Texas wind turbines generated 119,836 GWh of electricity in 2023, up 4% from 2022.
- Iowa produced 41,869 GWh (actually a drop, of -9%) and Oklahoma had 37,731 GWh (flat, at 0%).
What they're saying: "These data — combined with federal capacity forecasts — show how renewable energy growth is driving America's progress toward net-zero carbon emissions targets in the U.S.," reads Climate Central's report.
💬 Alex's thought bubble: Geography plays a role here — solar and wind power obviously make more sense in sunnier and breezier regions, respectively — as do state policies and incentives.
Between the lines: A big part of the wind and solar boom is being driven by private equity investment, per Axios Pro: Climate Deals' Alan Neuhauser.
Reality check: Wind and solar projects haven't been without their issues.
- Higher interest rates, inflation and supply chain issues are spoiling the financial math of some alt-energy investments, leading to headline-grabbing cancellations.
- Blade and turbine issues have also plagued some wind energy efforts.
Yes, but: Major projects are still coming online.
- New York, for instance, recently flipped the switch on its first offshore wind farm, some 35 miles off Long Island's Montauk Point.
What's next: Energy from wind and solar installations is expected to outpace coal-fired electricity this year, as Axios Generate's Ben Geman has reported.
