In Ohio, electricity consumption in 2025 is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than two-thirds, or about 67%, of the electricity coming from these sources. Gas makes up the largest portion of this at approximately 45%, followed by coal at about 20%. Additional net imports add to the fossil energy mix. In terms of low-carbon or clean electricity sources, these account for nearly 17% of the total electricity used, with nuclear energy contributing the largest share of just under 10%. Solar energy, including both utility-scale and other installations, provides nearly 5%, while wind energy contributes close to 2%. This indicates that Ohio is still significantly dependent on fossil fuels for its electricity needs and has much room to grow in the realm of clean energy production.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Ohio?
Per capita electricity consumption in Ohio continues to grow, reaching nearly 15,000 kWh per person in 2025, which is a noticeable increase from the previous record set in 2024 at about 13,800 kWh per person. This reflects a change of nearly 1,300 kWh, signifying a robust uptick in electricity use within just one year. Encouragingly, low-carbon electricity generation per person has also increased, albeit at a slower pace. In 2025, the per capita generation of low-carbon electricity reached nearly 2,500 kWh, a rise of 280 kWh from the year before. This growth, although positive, highlights an ongoing challenge in boosting clean electricity generation at a rate that matches the overall rise in consumption.
Suggestions
To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, Ohio can look to successful regions for insights, particularly in scaling up nuclear and solar capacities. States like Illinois, with 50% of its electricity generated from nuclear energy, provide a relevant model for Ohio to expand its nuclear infrastructure. Similarly, lessons can be drawn from states like California and Nevada, where solar energy contributes around 31% and 34% of their electricity, respectively. By emulating these examples, Ohio can dramatically increase its share of clean electricity, diminishing its reliance on fossil fuels and positioning itself as a leader in green energy.
History
Throughout recent history, Ohio has seen varied efforts toward low-carbon electricity adoption. The year 2024 marked a significant increase in nuclear generation by 1.7 TWh, which was a moment of progress. However, a worrying drop in nuclear energy of 0.8 TWh followed in 2025, which should prompt rigorous efforts to reverse this trend. Wind energy, though still a small part of the energy mix, experienced a modest increase of 0.2 TWh in 2025. Other low-carbon sources like hydro and biofuels have remained stagnant recently, emphasizing the need for a strategic focus on expanding nuclear and solar facilities to ensure a diversified and resilient clean energy future for Ohio.
