Over the past year, from October 2024 to September 2025, the United States has predominantly relied on fossil fuels for electricity, with over half, 57%, of its electricity coming from this source. Natural gas, making up 40% of the total electricity consumption, leads the fossil fuel category. Closely following fossil fuels, low-carbon energy sources contribute roughly 43% to the electricity mix, marking a significant portion. Nuclear energy, a crucial component of clean electricity, stands out with 17% of electricity generation. Wind and solar power, valuable contributors to low-carbon electricity, account for 10% and 8% respectively. Hydropower and biofuels, though lesser, continue to add to the low-carbon initiatives, together representing almost 7% of the total electricity generation.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in United States?
Despite the overall reduction in electricity consumption compared to the peak recorded in 2005, there is noticeable progress in the generation of low-carbon electricity. Currently, per capita electricity consumption in the U.S. stands at 13037 kWh, a decline by 1568 kWh since 2005. However, the bright spot is the upswing in low-carbon electricity. The latest data shows an increase of 206 kWh/person in low-carbon electricity from the previous 2024 record, reaching 5551 kWh/person. This growth, fueled by advancements in nuclear, wind, and solar power, outlines a positive trajectory in the move toward sustainable electricity despite the overall reduction in total electricity use.
Suggestions
To foster continued growth in low-carbon electricity, the United States can enhance its existing successful clean energy technologies, especially nuclear and wind power. Emulating success stories from regions such as France and Slovakia, where nuclear power constitutes major portions of the electricity mix at 69% and 67% respectively, could guide effective expansion policies. Domestically, states like Iowa and South Dakota, with wind contributing 60% and 57% of their electricity, serve as excellent examples of leveraging regional wind resources. On a solar front, regions such as Nevada, with solar constituting 30% of its electricity generation, and Lebanon, with 31%, showcase the potential for solar energy expansion. Drawing from these examples, the U.S. can not only enhance clean electricity generation but also make substantial strides towards reducing dependency on fossil fuels, addressing climate change and air pollution.
History
In the history of U.S. low-carbon electricity, nuclear power saw significant growth during the late 20th century. Particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, considerable increases in nuclear generation were noted, such as an 82.6 TWh rise in 1990. Hydropower showed variability, with substantial gains in several years including 1989 with a 63.6 TWh increase, yet also faced significant declines, such as a 65.3 TWh drop in 2001. Recent years marked substantial growth in solar energy, with a significant increase of 84.3 TWh in 2025, illustrating the rapidly expanding potential of solar technology. Wind, although newer in the mix, showed promising expansion as well, especially noted in 2022 with a 56.1 TWh rise. Overall, these trends underscore continuous evolution toward a greener electricity profile in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of expanding nuclear, wind, and solar capacities.
