Renewable Electricity Standards at Work in the States

As of February 2009, 28 U.S. states and Washington D.C. have implemented renewable electricity standards to increase the share of wind, solar, and bioenergy in their power supplies. The Union of Concerned Scientists projects these standards will support 76,750 MW of new renewable power by 2025, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by over 183 million metric tons. While success varies by state—with Texas significantly exceeding its targets—the document argues that state leadership proves these standards can reduce market barriers, justifying a national renewable electricity standard to enhance energy security and fuel diversity.

• By February 2009, 28 states and Washington D.C. had implemented renewable electricity standards, a number that had more than doubled since 2004. Missouri was the third state to pass such a standard via ballot initiative on Election Day 2008, requiring 15 percent renewable power by 2021.
• The Union of Concerned Scientists projects that state standards will support 76,750 megawatts (MW) of new renewable power by 2025, which is a 570 percent increase over 1997 U.S. levels (excluding hydro). This is expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 183 million metric tons.
• State standards are a primary driver of U.S. renewable energy generation; specifically, half of all U.S. wind development between 2001 and 2006 resulted from these standards. Texas is highlighted as a particularly successful example, having installed more than 7,100 MW of wind capacity by the end of 2008, exceeding its 2015 target of 5,000 MW several years early.
• The five largest markets for new renewable energy growth in the U.S. are created by standards in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2009). Renewable Electricity Standards at Work in the States. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RES_in_the_States_Update.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Renewable Electricity Standards at Work in the States. 2009. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RES_in_the_States_Update.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Renewable Electricity Standards at Work in the States |date=February 2009 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RES_in_the_States_Update.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2009renewable, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Renewable Electricity Standards at Work in the States}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2009}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/RES_in_the_States_Update.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }