In this guide, we compare each US State by the following indicators:
– What % share of overall electricity production is made up by renewable energy
– Average electricity price (retail price, in cents per kWh)
– Carbon intensity of electricity production (in terms of grams of CO2 emitted per kWh produced)
– And, level of air pollution/air quality (in terms of the amount of small particulate matter in the air)
Summary – Purpose Of This Guide, &, What Does The Data Say?
Purpose Of This Guide
There’s a few reasons that this guide might be useful
The first reason is to see whether the % share that renewables energy makes up of overall electricity production is significantly impacts electricity prices in any consistent way
A second reason is that electricity generation is usually one of the key sectors that is linked to CO2 emissions, with the transport sector another one. Both still use fossil fuels at this point in time.
It should be noted though that it is not only the electricity sector that contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The burning of fossil fuels and activity in other sectors such as transport, heating and cooling, agriculture, industrial, residential, and more can contribute to them.
Considering The Potential Tradeoffs Of Renewable Energy
In States where renewable energy might be linked to higher electricity prices in a particular State (or a country), these States may want a guarantee that the renewable energy is leading to lower CO2 emissions from electricity and also lower air pollution levels, as a tradeoffs for the higher electricity prices
Using One State As An Example
California is perhaps an example of a State that might want to ask questions about their electricity sector and how much value they are getting out of their renewable energy
They have one of the highest renewable energy % shares for electricity production, but higher than average electricity prices, and poor air quality in several parts of the State (although other sectors and activities are likely responsible for the air quality)
Having said that, their CO2 emissions from electricity production are lower than average, which means they may be benefiting from lower greenhouse gas emissions
Other Notable States From The Data In This Guide
– State With The Highest Renewable Energy Share
Vermont
– States With The Highest CO2 Levels
West Virginia and Kentucky
– State With The Most Expensive Electricity
Hawaii
– State With One Of The Highest Air Pollution Levels (in terms of Particulate Matter exposure)
California
– State With One Of The Lowest Air Pollution Levels (in terms of Particulate Matter exposure)
New Hampshire
Change Over Time
It’s worth noting that greenhouse emissions, air pollution levels, renewable energy share and electricity prices can all change over time.
So, this data has to be re-checked and confirmed over time as these variables change
% Of Electricity Production That Is Renewable Energy vs Electricity Prices vs CO2 Emissions In Each US State
Below is a list of all US States.
The numbers in the list represent the following metrics:
First Line – Renewable Energy % Of Electricity Production (including hydro) in 2017
Second Line – Average Electricity Price (US cents per kWh) in 2017
Third Line – Carbon Intensity Of Electricity (CO2 Emissions in grams per kWh) in 2016
The list is:
Vermont – 99.6%, 14.6 US cents, 2 grams of CO2
Idaho – 81.6%, 8.26 cents, 83 CO2
Washington – 80%, 7.94 cents, 83 CO2
Oregon – 76.3%, 8.81 cents, 130 CO2
Maine – 75.9%, 13.02 cents, 130 CO2
South Dakota – 73.1%, 10.05 cents, 226 CO2
California – 47.2%, 16.06 cents, 186 CO2
Montana – 45.1%, 8.92 cents, 578 CO2
Iowa – 38.8%, 8.73 cents, 454 CO2
Kansas – 36.2%, 10.60 cents, 521 CO2
Oklahoma – 36.1%, 8.20 cents, 449 CO2
Alaska – 33.3%, 19.10 cents, 444 CO2
North Dakota – 31.8%, 8.78 cents, 763 CO2
New York – 27.8%, 14.74 cents, 206 CO2
Minnesota – 24.9%, 10.27 cents, 445 CO2
Nevada – 24.8%, 8.76 cents, 349 CO2
Colorado – 23.4%, 9.99 cents, 649 CO2
New Hampshire – 19.9%, 16.17 cents, 124 CO2
Nebraska – 19.3%, 9.08 cents, 581 CO2
New Mexico – 17.7%, 9.59 cents, 699 CO2
Texas – 16.0%, 8.38 cents, 457 CO2
Hawaii – 14.2%, 26.05 cents, 667 CO2
Arizona – 11.8%, 10.64 cents, 408 CO2
Utah – 11.6%, 8.60 cents, 722 CO2
Wyoming – 11.6%, 8.28 cents, 867 CO2
Tennessee – 11.2%, 9.45 cents, 453 CO2
Massachusetts – 10.5%, 17.12 cents, 334 CO2
North Carolina – 10.3%, 9.04 cents, 388 CO2
Maryland – 9.8%, 11.98 cents, 462 CO2
Wisconsin – 9.3%, 10.76 cents, 592 CO2
Alabama – 9.2%, 9.83 cents, 388 CO2
Arkansas – 8.8%, 8.26 cents, 500 CO2
Michigan – 8.3%, 11.28 cents, 492 CO2
Georgia – 7.9%, 9.83 cents, 431 CO2
Rhode Island – 7.2%, 16.42 cents, 394 CO2
Kentucky – 6.9%, 8.57 cents, 904 CO2
Illinois – 6.6%, 9.49 cents, 355 CO2
Virginia – 6.4%, 9.18 cents, 363 CO2
Indiana – 6.0%, 9.77 cents, 822 CO2
South Carolina – 5.9%, 9.97 cents, 284 CO2
West Virginia – 4.60%, 9.00 cents, 906 CO2
Pennsylvania – 4.35%, 10.13 cents, 382 CO2
Missouri – 4.24%, 10.03 cents, 785 CO2
Louisiana – 4.15%, 7.79 cents, 336 CO2
Connecticut – 3.46%, 17.55 cents, 192 CO2
New Jersey – 2.89%, 13.32 cents, 254 CO2
Mississippi – 2.6%, 9.09 cents, 412 CO2
Florida – 2.53%, 10.92 cents, 444 CO2
Ohio – 2.48%, 9.84 cents, 678 CO2
Delaware – 1.68%, 10.91 cents, 414 CO2
– wikipedia.org, and eia.gov
Air Pollution By US State
Particulate matter is a major one, but, ozone and nitrogen dioxide are examples of others
With this in mind, it’s good practice to check exactly what the air quality status monitors, or air pollution ratings are tracking.
The following list is a list of States measured by particulate matter in the air only.
In 2018, from the healthiest State to least healthy state for Air Pollution, in terms of Average exposure of the general public to particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less in size (3-year average):
North Dakota (least air pollution)
New Hampshire
Wyoming
Vermont
South Dakota
Hawaii
New Mexico
Massachusetts
Maine
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Wisconsin
Kansas
New York
Arkansas
Florida
Minnesota
Nebraska
Iowa
Virginia
Alaska
North Carolina
South Carolina
Mississippi
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Oregon
Tennessee
West Virginia
Missouri
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Washington
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
New Jersey
Utah
Alabama
Delaware
Georgia
Texas
Indiana
Nevada
Ohio
Illinois
Arizona
Pennsylvania
California (most air pollution)
– See the full list by following the americashealthrankings.org resource
Other resources on the most and least polluted States and cities in the US are the lung.org resources, and the qz.com and wikipedia.org resources
Sources
1. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/air/state/ALL
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution_in_the_United_States
3. https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html
4. https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/cleanest-cities.html
5. https://qz.com/1604654/the-us-cities-with-the-worst-air-pollution-are-in-california/
6. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/
