In the most recent 12-month period, spanning from September 2024 to August 2025, electricity consumption in Colorado has been largely dependent on fossil fuels, with more than half of the electricity—approximately 52%—coming from such sources, including natural gas and coal. Specifically, gas accounts for around 26% and coal nearly 26% of this consumption. Meanwhile, low-carbon energy sources contribute to around 42% of electricity generation. Wind energy is the dominant clean electricity source in the state, providing more than a quarter—approximately 27%—of all electricity. Solar energy contributes to nearly 12%, with a division between utility-scale and behind-the-meter solar installations at 8% and 3% respectively. Hydropower adds a modest 3% to the clean electricity share. Net imports, likely consisting of a mix of both fossil and low-carbon energy, account for a small portion, approximately 6% of the state's electricity mix.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Colorado?
Regarding electricity consumption trends, Colorado's electricity use per person in 2025 has experienced a notable decline of about 9% compared to its peak in 2006. The current figure stands at 10,674 kWh per person, down from the historic high of 11,723 kWh per person in 2006. However, it's encouraging to see a slight uptick in low-carbon energy usage, which now accounts for 4,455 kWh per person, a small increase from the previous record set in 2024. This indicates a growing yet cautious transition towards cleaner energy sources, emphasizing the need for further investment and development in low-carbon technologies to ensure a sustainable rise in electricity consumption to meet future demands driven by electrification and technological advancements such as AI.
Suggestions
To encourage expansion in low-carbon electricity, Colorado can significantly scale up its wind and solar energy installations, building on its leadership in these technologies. Learning from other regions can provide valuable insights; for instance, states like Iowa and South Dakota have capitalized on their wind resources, achieving electricity generation shares of 60% and 56% respectively. Similarly, California and Nevada illustrate the potential for solar energy, providing around 29% and 33% of their electricity through solar sources. The implementation of nuclear energy, particularly following the examples of states like New Hampshire and South Carolina with over 50% of their electricity needs met by nuclear power, can also play a critical role in diversifying Colorado's clean energy portfolio. Such strategies will ensure a robust, low-carbon electricity supply while reducing dependence on environmentally detrimental fossil fuels.
History
Colorado's journey in expanding low-carbon electricity has notably accelerated in the past two decades. In the early 2000s, the state made considerable strides in wind energy, with subsequent years witnessing a consistent increase, including notable annual increments like the 1.9 TWh rise in 2008 and a 2.5 TWh jump in 2020. The 2010s were characterized by sporadic developments in hydropower alongside wind energy growth, although hydropower faced some declines back in 2012 and 2013. The last few years have seen fluctuating dynamics; for instance, in 2023, a slight decline in wind energy generation was observed, yet this was partly compensated by small growth in hydropower. Most recently, in 2024, wind energy increased again with a 1.5 TWh addition. These historical advancements underscore the state's capacity to further develop its clean energy infrastructure, particularly enhancing wind and solar power to foster environmental sustainability and meet future energy demands.
