America's solar and wind energy hotspots, mapped
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.