Wind, solar reach 10 percent of monthly US generation for first time

For the first time, wind and solar accounted for more than 10 percent of the monthly electricity generation in the United States this March, according to data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Electric Power Monthly.

The 10 percent includes both small-scale and utility-scale generation. Electricity generation from wind and solar has grown with increases the resources’ generating capacity.

Annually, wind and solar accounted for seven percent of total U.S. electric generation in 2016.

Based on seasonal patterns, which cause output from wind and solar to vary throughout the year, wind and solar will likely exceed 10 percent of U.S. electricity generation in April and fall to under 10 percent during the summer months.

According to annual data for 2016, Texas generated the most wind and solar electricity of any state. Most of this generation was from wind. Wind and solar made up the highest share of a state’s electricity generation in Iowa where it accounted for 37 percent of total generation. In addition to Iowa, six other states got at least 20 percent of 2016 electricity generation from wind and solar.

Wind generation excess solar in almost every state. Among the top 12 states, only California and Arizona generated more electricity from solar than wind in 2016. Three states in the top dozen, Iowa, Kansas, and North Dakota, produced no electricity with utility-scale solar plants and relatively little with small-scale solar photovoltaic systems during the year.