Tracking renewable energy growth in the US
S. Himmelstein | December 12, 2023
Source: Environment America Research & Policy Center
More than three times as much solar, wind and geothermal power was produced in the U.S. in 2022 relative to 2013. Growth in deployment of these energy forms is evident in all 50 states, according to an online dashboard developed by Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group.
The Renewables on the Rise 2023 dashboard compiles information from The U.S. Energy Information Administration to detail progress over the past decade in each state in wind, solar, electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging, energy efficiency and battery storage. The data show that California, Texas and Florida experienced the most solar power and battery storage growth from 2013 to 2022, while Texas, Iowa and Oklahoma topped the charts for wind power growth. Illinois, New Jersey and Michigan reaped the biggest increases in savings from electric energy efficiency programs from 2013 to 2021. California, Florida and Texas top the rankings for EV sales in 2022 and California, New York and Florida have seen the greatest rise in public EV charging ports since 2013.
In 2022, the U.S. produced enough wind energy to power nearly 41 million typical homes, 2.6 times as much as in 2013. The nation also produced enough solar energy to power 19 million homes in 2022, nearly 12 times as much as in 2013.
[See also: Renewable energy shines in the US]
The 8.9 GW of battery energy storage attained nationwide at the end of 2022 was 60 times as much as in 2013 and 85% more than at the end of 2021, helping to support the use of more renewable energy and supply power during extreme weather and times of grid stress.
Energy efficiency improvements installed in 2021 will save 300 TWh of power over their lifetimes, enough to power 28 million homes for a year. Energy efficiency savings increased by about 20% between 2013 and 2021, the last year for which information is available.
More than 925,000 plug-in EVs were bought nationwide in 2022, representing a more than 10-fold increase from 2013. The number of EV chargers nationwide exceeded 151,000 — a nearly 18-fold increase from 2013.