Over the past twelve months, from September 2024 to August 2025, electricity consumption in Texas has been largely driven by fossil fuels, with almost two-thirds of the state's electricity coming from these sources. Natural gas alone accounts for roughly half of Texas's generation. On the flip side, clean energy contributes a little less than 40% to the state's electricity mix, with wind energy being a major player, generating more than one-fifth of Texas's electricity. Solar energy, chiefly from utility-scale installations, makes up close to 10% of the electricity, while nuclear contributes around 7%. Despite coal's declining status in the global energy landscape, it still accounts for close to 12% of Texas's electricity generation.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Texas?
Electricity consumption in Texas is on an upward trajectory. In 2025, Texans consumed a record 18,535 kWh per person, outpacing the previous year by 150 kWh. This rise in demand highlights the state's growing energy needs, likely fueled by ongoing economic development and population growth. An encouraging sign within this increase is the rise in low-carbon electricity generation. Texas has set a new record for clean electricity, with each person benefiting from 7,190 kWh, a significant jump of 475 kWh over the last year. This impressive boost in clean energy highlights Texas's potential to pivot even more strongly toward sustainable electricity sources in the future.
Suggestions
To further advance low-carbon electricity generation, Texas should focus on expanding its successful wind capacity, a source already generating significant amounts of clean electricity. Learning from regions like Iowa and Denmark, where wind energy powers over half of their electricity generation, Texas can further bolster its wind infrastructure. Alongside wind, solar energy presents a robust opportunity for expansion. Drawing lessons from solar leaders such as Nevada, where solar accounts for a third of electricity, Texas has a chance to harness its vast sunlight potential. Incorporating nuclear energy is also crucial, and Texas could look to states like Illinois, where nuclear energy constitutes over half of the electricity supply, to augment its clean energy transition. Collectively, these strategies could significantly bolster Texas's clean electricity profile and ensure a more sustainable energy future.
History
In the past decades, Texas has seen remarkable growth in its low-carbon energy sector, especially in wind generation, beginning with noticeable increases in the late 2000s to early 2010s. Strong, consistent growth was a feature through the 2010s, with several years posting gains of over 8 TWh. This impressive expansion underscores Texas's leadership in wind energy. The history of nuclear energy in Texas, however, has been a different narrative, with growth evident only in certain years and declines also noted, such as in 2017 when nuclear generation saw a drop of 3.5 TWh. This inconsistency is concerning, highlighting missed opportunities for clean electricity where stability and growth could have been better established. Encouragingly, the year 2022 marked a banner period for wind energy with an increase of over 15 TWh, signifying Texas's ongoing commitment to clean energy despite the fluctuating nuclear sector. Moving forward, steady expansion and commitment to green energy are paramount as Texas addresses its energy needs.
