From July 2025 through June 2026, Vermont relied on net imports for about 61% of its electricity consumption, while local low-carbon generation supplied the remaining 39%. Hydropower was the largest local clean source, providing about 18% of consumption, followed by solar at roughly 9%, biofuels at 6%, and wind at 5%. Solar included about 6% from behind-the-meter installations and 4% from utility-scale facilities. No local fossil-fuel generation is reported in this breakdown, but the sources of imported electricity are not specified, so imports cannot automatically be classified as either clean or fossil-based.

Is Electricity Growing in Vermont?

Electricity consumption per person is growing: the latest 2026 figure reached about 9,800 kWh, exceeding the previous record set in 2025 by around 200 kWh, or 2%. That growth is welcome as electrification and AI increase electricity demand, but local clean generation is not keeping pace with its historical peak. Low-carbon electricity generation stood at about 3,850 kWh per person, around 330 kWh—or 8%—below its 2023 record of roughly 4,180 kWh. Vermont therefore needs stronger growth in clean electricity generation alongside rising consumption.

Suggestions

Vermont can increase low-carbon generation by expanding rooftop and utility-scale solar, developing suitable wind projects, and considering new nuclear generation alongside regional nuclear partnerships. Nearby examples are particularly useful: the US states of New Hampshire and Connecticut generate about 52% and 36% of their electricity from nuclear, respectively, demonstrating nuclear’s substantial role in New England’s clean electricity supply. The US state of Maine generates about 18% from wind, offering a regional example for wind development. For solar, Vermont can learn from Germany, where solar supplies about 20% of electricity generation, and the US state of California, where it supplies almost a third. Together, these regions illustrate how nuclear, solar, and wind can support a larger, cleaner electricity supply and reduce dependence on fossil generation associated with climate change and air pollution.

History

The available history covers 2024 through 2026 and shows a concerning decline in hydropower without offsetting growth in the other listed sources. Hydropower generation fell by about 0.3 TWh in 2024, followed by further decreases of about 0.1 TWh in both 2025 and 2026—a cumulative reduction of roughly 0.5 TWh. Wind and biofuel generation showed no reported year-to-year change throughout those three years. These figures indicate stagnation in those sources and declining hydropower output, underscoring the need to accelerate new clean electricity generation, especially solar and nuclear, to support Vermont’s growing electricity needs.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.