2 weeks Ago By Rich Segal
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas continues to be a leader in both solar and wind generation.Solar is now the fastest-growing source of electricity in the United States, according to data released by our partners at Climate Central.Texas generated the second most electricity from solar energy in 2024, behind California.
What's better is that Texas led the country in wind-generated electricity.In all, the United States generated a record 756,621 gigawatt-hours from both solar and wind last calendar year. That's enough to power the equivalent of more than 70,000,000 average American homes.
Solar and wind combine to account for a record 17% of the total generation in the U.S. in 2024.
It's also tripled the amount generated in 2015. Texas is generating more clean energy sources now, with solar and wind accounting for 30% of the state's electric power. That's good news for the environment.
Those with solar panels are likely saving more money on their electric bill because of the green energy solution.Texas is the leader in green wind energy generation with 28% of all the wind power in the U.S.
last year. The numbers show the Lone Star State's wind generation was 124.936 gigawatt hours in 2024.
The country as a whole generated 453,454 gigawatt hours.That's almost triple the wind power generated by the second biggest wind energy-producing state, Iowa. There, wind energy accounted for 63% of all electricity generated which is the largest share of total in-state electricity generation than any other state.
Oklahoma is third, Kansas fourth and Illinois fifth. California was tenth in wind generation.As a matter of reference, one gigawatt hour of power can power as many as 725,000 homes for a year.
Wind power in 2024 powered 42,000,000 homes, up 8% from 2023. Wind-generated electricity accounted for more than 25% of generated electricity in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Solar power last year powered 28,000,000 homes, up 27% from 2023.
Texas generated 44,506 gigawatt hours of solar power in 2024, 15% of the United States total of 303,167 gigawatt hours. Texas and California combined to account for 41% of the total solar generation last year. Florida was third here, too, followed by Arizona and Nevada.
Solar generation increased the electricity generated in California, Massachusetts, and Nevada by more than 25%.We'll close with these numbers, that from 2015 to 2024 there was an increase in solar generation in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Wind generation increased in 39 of the 42 states that produce electricity from wind.
Going forward, the demand for electricity will continue to grow. This will bring a need to produce more clean energy from solar and wind. These two elements will be key to meet the demand while at the same time reducing heat-trapping pollutants.
The demand for solar and wind will also lead to more people needed to fill jobs that support clean energy. The 2024 U.S.
Energy and Employment Jobs Report shows the United States added 149,000 clean energy jobs..
