Plugging In Renewable Energy

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) graded U.S. states on their commitment to renewable energy, finding that 34 states received failing grades (D or F) and only 16 passed. While 19 states have enacted standards or funds projected to add 15,215 MW of capacity by 2017, the gains are highly concentrated, with California and Texas accounting for nearly 60 percent of forecasted new development. The report argues that current state-level efforts are insufficient compared to the technical potential of wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, and landfill gas, and advocates for a national renewable electricity standard to achieve more equitable and cost-effective energy generation.

• The majority of U.S. states show a lack of commitment to renewable energy, with 34 states receiving failing grades of D or F, and six states specifically placed in a "Hall of Shame" due to high potential but low commitment.
• Renewable energy growth is heavily concentrated in a few states; California alone is responsible for 44 percent of all forecasted new development, and together with Texas, they account for nearly 60 percent.
• The technical potential for wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, and landfill gas is vast, capable of providing more than five times the current electricity needs of the United States, with 30 states able to generate all their electricity from non-hydroelectric renewables and still export power.
• State-level standards and funds are projected to increase renewable energy capacity by 15,215 MW by 2017, which is significantly more than what voluntary customer choice programs would produce, though still far below the potential of a national standard.
• A national renewable electricity standard of 10 percent by 2020 would generate 3.4 times more new renewable capacity than existing state efforts, while a 20 percent by 2020 standard would generate 12.8 times as much.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2003). Plugging In Renewable Energy. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/plugging_in_re_-_fact_sheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Plugging In Renewable Energy. 2003. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/plugging_in_re_-_fact_sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Plugging In Renewable Energy |date=May 2003 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/plugging_in_re_-_fact_sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2003plugging, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Plugging In Renewable Energy}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2003}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/plugging_in_re_-_fact_sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }