The Biggest Source of Power in Every State and Province

Top sources of electricity:

Canada and the US | Europe | Africa

Each state, province and territory has a different blend of electricity sources, depending on its history and abundance of natural resources.

The electricity sources used in the United States and Canada have been changing over time as the demand for electricity has grown and concerns about the environment and climate change have increased. Here are some of the key trends:

United States:

• Coal used to be the dominant source of electricity in the US, but its use has been declining in recent years due to concerns about its environmental impact and competition from natural gas and renewable energy sources.
• Natural gas is now the largest source of electricity in the US, accounting for about 40% of total electricity generation. It is relatively cheap and emits less carbon dioxide than coal, but there are concerns about its impact on air and water quality.
• Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are growing rapidly in the US, but they still only account for a small share of total electricity generation (about 11% in 2020). However, some states, such as California and Texas, generate a much larger share of their electricity from renewables.
• Nuclear power is another important source of electricity in the US, accounting for about 20% of total generation. However, the number of nuclear power plants in the US has been declining in recent years due to safety concerns and competition from other sources.

Canada:

• Hydroelectric power is the largest source of electricity in Canada, accounting for about 60% of total generation. Canada has many large rivers and a lot of untapped hydroelectric potential, so this is a relatively cheap and clean source of electricity.
• Nuclear power is the second largest source of electricity in Canada, accounting for about 15% of total generation. Canada has a significant nuclear industry and is a major exporter of nuclear technology.
• Natural gas is also an important source of electricity in Canada, accounting for about 12% of total generation. Like in the US, it is relatively cheap and emits less carbon dioxide than coal, but there are concerns about its impact on air and water quality.
• Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are growing in Canada, but they still only account for a small share of total electricity generation (about 7% in 2020). However, some provinces, such as Ontario and Quebec, generate a much larger share of their electricity from renewables.

Sources:

https://www.nei.org/resources/statistics/state-electricity-generation-fuel-shares

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/