The power grid brings electricity to every corner of the United States, but the electricity that flows through the wires doesn't come from the same sources everywhere. Depending on where you live, the electricity that reaches your property comes from different generation capacities, from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas to renewable sources like hydroelectric, biomass, solar, and wind.
The central theses
- Overall, the United States generates most of its electricity from natural gas: 40.5% of all electricity produced, to be precise.
- Renewable energies are very close to being the second largest generator of electricity in the country, representing 18.2% of total generation.
- Control where your electricity comes fromInstallation of a solar system on the roof.or sign upcommunity manor.
What does this article say?
- This is how you discover where your energy comes from.
- Where does the electricity come from in your state?
- National Stromerzeugung trends
So you know where your electricity comes from
A certain amount of electricity from the grid powers everything in our homes, from small appliances to Internet connections, lights, refrigerators, and even electric vehicles. Most people may not even think about the source of this power after registering with the utility company serving their area. However, not only is it easy to figure out where your electricity comes from, it's also an important way to be more responsible and make greener choices in your life. Here are some ways to find out where your energy is coming from.
1. Contact your energy provider
Finding out how your electricity is generated can be as simple as researching your provider. Many energy providers post their energy mix online, thus saving you the step of making a call. However, sometimes it is not so easy as many utility companies do not publish this information because they are not vertically integrated. While you may be able to find the mix of power sources at a vertically integrated utility that generates its own electricity through nuclear power plants and wind turbines, you probably won't be able to find this information from providers who are just traders and energy that is owned by separate companies is sold.
2. Use of the energy sector and regulatory data
If you get your power from a non-vertically integrated utility or can't find your provider's mix of power sources, there are still plenty of resources available to find out where your electricity is coming from. Using maps likeThis oneYou can find out if your power comes from a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) or an Independent System Operator (ISO) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). If you live in an area served by one of these types of units, simply search for the name of the unit closest to you and follow the same process to find your utility's energy mix. This information can help you determine if your electricity is generated near you or from far away.
3. Use of local data from energy data aggregators
If you live in an area that doesn't have an RTO or ISO and your energy provider can't give you accurate information about where your electricity comes from, there are also databases and renewable energy sources with very specific local information.
- The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) also has a complete list oftools and resourceswhich describes where the energy comes from by state and source.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tool namesPower-Profiler, which allows you to enter your ZIP code to see where the power comes from in your area.
The American Cities Climate Challenge Renewable Energy Accelerator, a Bloomberg-sponsored renewable energy program, has its ownToolwhere you can view statewide information about the origin of electricity.
How does the electrical network work?
The electrical grid is a complex network of electricity producers (i.e., power plants) and transmission and distribution lines that dynamically respond to changes in electricity supply and demand to ensure that electricity is always delivered reliably. From the generators, electricity goes to substations, which use transformers to convert high-voltage electricity to lower voltages. These electrical generators can be of any type, from non-renewable coal-fired power plants and natural gas plants to clean, renewable energy plants.
Keeping the network up and running requires a delicate balance between supply and demand and a highly integrated set of components across the country. Transmission operators such as the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and the Pennsylvania-Jersey-Maryland Regional Transmission Operator (PJM RTO) maintain this balance through a combination of market insights and insights, as well as weather forecasts. , demand and supply with the objective of providing a cost-effective and reliable high-voltage electricity service.
Where does the electricity come from in your state?
The entire mix of electricity that flows through the electrical grid comes from thousands of individual generators, all interconnected and feeding the electrical grid through distribution networks. These generators use all types of fuels, mainly the US power grid carries the generated electricity.Coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, and renewables. The exact percentages of each generation source differ from state to state:
How electricity is generated by the state
| STATE | Solar | Other renewable energies | Money | gas natural | Petroleum | Nuclear | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi | 0,0 % | 30,8% | 11,5% | 42,1% | 15,7% | 0,0 % | -0,1% |
| Alabama | 0,5% | 12,1% | 15,8% | 40,2% | 0,0 % | 31,7% | 0,0 % |
| Arkansas | 0,5% | 10,1% | 28,2% | 33,5% | 0,1% | 27,6% | 0,0 % |
| A | 5,3% | 6,7% | 12,6% | 46,5% | 0,0 % | 28,9% | 0,0 % |
| California | 15,7% | 26,9% | 0,2% | 47,7% | 0,0 % | 8,4% | 1,2% |
| CO | 2,8% | 27,8% | 36,0% | 33,6% | -0,3% | 0,0 % | 0,1% |
| CT | 0,5% | 2,7% | 0,0 % | 57,1% | 0,1% | 38,2% | 1,4% |
| DC | 6,3% | 27,3% | 0,0 % | 66,4% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % | 0,0 % |
| VON | 1,0 % | 1,5% | 2,0% | 92,6% | 0,2% | 0,0 % | 2,8% |
| Florida | 2,6% | 1,7% | 6,6% | 75,5% | 0,7% | 11,7% | 1,2% |
| Georgia | 3,1% | 8,4% | 11,6% | 49,3% | 0,2% | 27,3% | 0,1% |
| HOLA | 5,3% | 10,5% | 12,8% | 0,0 % | 67,7% | 0,0 % | 3,6% |
| I A | 0,0 % | 59,4% | 23,7% | 11,8% | 0,2% | 4,9% | 0,0 % |
| I COULD | 3,2% | 72,9% | 0,1% | 23,5% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % | 0,3% |
| UE | 0,0 % | 9,7% | 18,0% | 14,1% | 0,0 % | 57,8% | 0,3% |
| NO | 0,4% | 7,8% | 53,0% | 35,6% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 3,0% |
| Kansas | 0,1% | 44,1% | 31,1% | 5,1% | 0,1% | 19,4% | 0,0 % |
| Kentucky | 0,1% | 8,4% | 68,7% | 22,6% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 0,1% |
| A | 0,0 % | 3,3% | 3,9% | 70,2% | 3,4% | 16,8% | 2,3% |
| BREAST | 7,7% | 9,3% | 0,0 % | 77,8% | 0,2% | 0,0 % | 5,0% |
| MD | 1,5% | 7,2% | 9,3% | 39,1% | 0,2% | 41,9% | 0,9% |
| MICH | 0,3% | 76,5% | 0,6% | 19,0% | 0,4% | 0,0 % | 3,3% |
| MI | 0,1% | 9,1% | 26,2% | 34,2% | 0,9% | 28,4% | 1,0 % |
| Minnesota | 2,9% | 24,8% | 24,8% | 20,9% | 0,1% | 26,0% | 0,6% |
| mes | 0,1% | 7,3% | 71,3% | 10,4% | 0,1% | 10,7% | 0,0 % |
| FRAU | 0,6% | 2,1% | 6,9% | 80,6% | 0,0 % | 9,7% | 0,0 % |
| MONTE | 0,1% | 59,3% | 36,4% | 1,2% | 2,0% | 0,0 % | 1,0 % |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 6,7% | 8,8% | 16,7% | 33,3% | 0,1% | 34,0% | 0,4% |
| NORTH DAKOTA | 0,0 % | 38,1% | 58,1% | 3,5% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 0,2% |
| NO | 0,1% | 28,8% | 51,0% | 3,3% | 0,0 % | 16,8% | 0,0 % |
| N.H | 0,0 % | 16,0% | 0,8% | 22,3% | 0,3% | 60,3% | 0,3% |
| New Jersey | 2,1% | 1,1% | 1,5% | 50,1% | 0,1% | 43,8% | 1,3% |
| New Mexico | 5,1% | 22,0% | 37,5% | 35,2% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % |
| Nevada | 13,7% | 15,1% | 4,8% | 66,3% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % | 0,1% |
| NY | 0,6% | 27,6% | 0,1% | 40,9% | 0,3% | 29,7% | 0,8% |
| OH | 0,1% | 2,8% | 37,2% | 43,3% | 1,0 % | 15,1% | 0,6% |
| OK | 0,1% | 39,5% | 7,2% | 53,2% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % | 0,0 % |
| O | 1,7% | 65,8% | 2,6% | 29,9% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % | 0,1% |
| Pennsylvania | 0,1% | 3,4% | 10,2% | 52,5% | 0,0 % | 33,2% | 0,6% |
| Rhode Island | 2,2% | 4,8% | 0,0 % | 93,0% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 1,7% | 5,3% | 12,6% | 24,6% | 0,1% | 55,6% | 0,0 % |
| Dakota del Sur | 0,0 % | 80,5% | 11,7% | 7,8% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 0,0 % |
| Tennessee | 0,4% | 16,8% | 17,7% | 19,4% | 0,1% | 45,5% | 0,0 % |
| Of you | 1,8% | 20,0% | 16,6% | 52,1% | 0,0 % | 8,8% | 0,6% |
| Utah | 6,9% | 5,6% | 61,5% | 25,5% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 0,4% |
| Virginia | 1,3% | 4,2% | 3,7% | 60,8% | 0,2% | 29,2% | 0,5% |
| TELEVISION | 8,5% | 91,5% | 0,0 % | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | -0,1% |
| Washington | 0,0 % | 75,0% | 4,5% | 12,1% | 0,0 % | 8,1% | 0,3% |
| Wisconsin | 0,2% | 9,3% | 38,7% | 35,8% | 0,2% | 15,9% | 0,0 % |
| VIRGINIA OCCIDENTAL | 0,0 % | 6,2% | 88,6% | 4,9% | 0,3% | 0,0 % | 0,1% |
| WY | 0,4% | 15,7% | 79,4% | 3,3% | 0,1% | 0,0 % | 1,1% |
Interestingly, these percentages can vary significantly! For example, Vermont gets no electricity from coal and more than 90% from renewables, while Utah is almost the opposite: 61.5% from coal and only 12.3% from renewables. These differences are due to several factors, with politics playing a big role.
National Stromerzeugung trends
As shown above, electricity demand and generation vary significantly by state. However, most states still get their majority of their electricity from natural gas, and this is reflected in the overall US power generation mix:
US Electricity Generation by Generation Source
| Those | Percentage of total production |
|---|---|
| Money | 19,3% |
| gas natural | 40,5% |
| Petroleum | 0,4% |
| Nuclear | 19,7% |
| Renewable energy | 18,2% |
| Others | 1,8% |
Of the 18.2 percent of national power generation from renewable sources, hydropower and wind power lead with 7.1 percent and 8.4 percent of generation, respectively. This is what the mix of renewable energy sources looks like in the US:
Renewable energy generation in the United States by generation source
| Those | Percentage of total production |
|---|---|
| hydroelectric | 7,1% |
| vento | 8,4% |
| Solar | 2,2% |
| geothermal | 0,4% |
Solar community on the grid
A (still relatively small) portion of the 2.2 percent of US grid electricity that comes from solar is community solar panels: large, centralized solar power plants whose electrical power is shared by more than a property. Community Solar is not yet available in all states, but in states that have active projects, they provide the opportunity to do so.save on your electricity billwhile supporting adding more solar power to your local grid.
Are you interested in joining a community solar project? In itMercado EnergySageYou can compare solar parks in your area that are available for subscription. While community solar savings are generally less than the savings you could get from a rooftop PV system, not everyone can install panels on their property. Especially for people who don't own the home they live in (for example, renters), community solar power is a great way to save electricity.
Go solar and save
Whether you choose a rooftop solar system or a community solar subscription, both are effective ways to reduce your carbon and greenhouse gas emissions and save money on your utility bills with renewable energy. In the case of community solar, you're not necessarily bringing the electrons from solar energy directly into your home, but you're helping to ensure that a greater percentage of the electrical grid comes from solar energy. Help minimize the impact of climate change today and starthereocommunity manor!