Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress

The Union of Concerned Scientists ranked U.S. states on their clean energy momentum using 12 metrics divided into technical progress, direct effects, and policy environments. California ranked first overall, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts. The analysis found that 13 percent of U.S. electricity was generated from renewable energy in 2015, and 36 percent of generating capacity being built between 2016 and 2019 is expected to be renewable. Significant reductions in power plant emissions were noted between 2011 and 2015, with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide declining by 47, 24, and 11 percent, respectively.

• California is the top-ranked state for clean energy momentum, followed by Vermont and Massachusetts.
• In 2015, renewable energy accounted for 13 percent of the total electricity generated in the United States.
• Between 2016 and 2019, 36 percent of the generating capacity under construction in the U.S. is expected to be powered by renewable energy.
• U.S. power plant emissions for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) decreased by 47, 24, and 11 percent, respectively, from 2011 to 2015.
• State-level performance varied significantly across metrics: South Dakota had the highest portion of in-state renewable generation in 2015 at 76 percent, while Hawaii led in residential solar capacity with 960 watts per household.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2017). Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/04/Clean-Energy-Momentum-Technical-Document.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress. 2017. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/04/Clean-Energy-Momentum-Technical-Document.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress |date=April 2017 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/04/Clean-Energy-Momentum-Technical-Document.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2017clean, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2017}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/04/Clean-Energy-Momentum-Technical-Document.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }