The article in the url below presents some fascinating graphics about how electricity in the U.S. is made – specifically, what proportion of electricity is generated using coal, natural gas, petroleum, nuclear, wind, and solar. The article starts with the country as a whole, mapping the way electricity generation has evolved over the past two decades:
"Natural gas surpassed coal as the country's top source of power in 2016, and renewables like wind and solar have grown quickly to become major players in the U.S. power system."
The article presents this information in terms of a longitudinal graphic, from 2001 to 2023:
The article contains a similar graphic for each of the country's 50 states, and the variance among states is significant, from Nevada:
"… natural gas became the top source of electricity generation in 2005, earlier than in many other places. More recently, solar power has surged there."
… to Iowa:
"Wind has taken off … over the past two decades, beating out coal in 2019 to become the state's largest source of power generation."
… to Wyoming:
"… where coal still dominates, alternative sources of power have made steady gains."
While the shift to renewables is notable, however, fossil fuels continue to provide the source of the majority of electricity generated in the U.S.:
"[In 2023], coal was the top electricity fuel in 10 states, down from 32 states in 2001. Natural gas largely took over during that time, but wind also emerged as a leading power source across the Midwest."
Take care
David
David Chandler
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How Does Your State Make Electricity
By Nadja Popovich
August 2, 2024
The New York Times
