The 55th Earth Day is Tuesday, and the theme this year focuses on renewable energy — “Our Power, Our Planet.” Today we look at renewables in the U.S.

Renewable energy resources

This map by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows generalized areas that contain some of the most abundant renewable energy resources in the lower 48 states. The lab is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary facility for power systems research and development. The lab says it focuses on security and reliability. It aims to lead energy systems integration and innovation — enhancing existing technologies and developing new solutions that unlock economic opportunity and fuel America’s global competitiveness.

Also see: Is it time for California to embrace nuclear power again?

In 2023, the share of electricity production from renewables in the U.S. was 22.7%. Figures for other countries:

• Japan, 23.8%
• France, 26.2%
• China, 30.1%
• Germany, 52.4%
• Canada, 66.1%
• Brazil, 88.7%
• Norway, 98.5

Also see: Here are 10 things you can do for Earth Day in Southern California

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is power from sources that are naturally replenishing. They are virtually inexhaustible but are limited by availability.

• Biomass
• Wood and wood waste
• Municipal solid waste
• Landfill gas and biogas
• Biofuels
• Hydropower
• Geothermal
• Wind
• Solar

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has its roots in the 1970s oil crisis. In 1974 President Gerald Ford signed a bill to create its precursor, the Solar Energy Research Institute. The 2021 budget for the lab was $464.3 million, with these amounts in millions going to renewable energy research:

• Solar energy: $122.4
• Wind power: $30
• Bioenergy: $56.3
• Hydrogen and fuel cells: $17.6
• Geothermal: $1.8
• Water power: $15.8

U.S. primary energy consumption by source, 2023

According to the Energy Information Administration, renewables provided about 9%, or 8.2 quadrillion British thermal units, of total U.S. energy consumption in 2023. The electric power sector accounted for about 39% of total U.S. renewable energy consumption, and about 21% of electricity generation was from renewable sources. Energy Information Administration renewable energy projections show the U.S. increasing to 15.3 quadrillion units by 2035.

What role does renewable energy play in the United States? The chart below shows that until the mid-1800s, wood was the source of nearly all the nation’s energy needs for heating, cooking and lighting. From the late 1800s until today, fossil fuels — coal, petroleum and natural gas — have been the primary sources of energy. Hydropower and wood were the most used renewable energy resources until the 1990s. Since then, U.S. energy consumption from biofuels, geothermal generation, solar and wind sources has increased.

Percentage of power produced by renewable energy sources by state this year

• Iowa 64.7%
• South Dakota 60.9%
• Kansas 52.1%
• New Mexico 48.9%
• Oklahoma 41.3%
• Vermont 39.5%
• Maine 39.4%
• Colorado 38.6%
• Nevada 36.7%
• California 36.6%
• North Dakota 34.8%
• Nebraska 33.2%
• Minnesota 31.7%
• Texas 29.4%
• Wyoming 23.8%
• Montana 23.7%
• Idaho 23.5%
• Hawaii 20.7%
• Oregon 20.2%
• Utah 17.8%
• Massachusetts 16.2%
• Illinois 14.7%
• Indiana 13.8%
• Arizona 11.7%
• Michigan 11%
• Rhode Island 10.7%
• North Carolina 10.5%
• Missouri 10.5%
• Virginia 10.2%
• Georgia 10%
• Washington 9.8%
• Wisconsin 9%
• New York 8.3%
• Florida 8.2%
• New Hampshire 7.4%
• Maryland 5.6%
• Arkansas 5.1%
• Ohio 5%
• Delaware 4.9%
• South Carolina 4.8%
• West Virginia 4.4%
• Mississippi 4.2%
• New Jersey 4%
• Louisiana 3.2%
• Alabama 3.1%
• Alaska 2.8%
• Pennsylvania 2.6%
• Connecticut 2.5%
• Tennessee 2.1%
• Kentucky 1%

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Energy Information Administration