RELEASE: Texas maintains national wind and solar energy dominance

DALLAS – Texas maintained its position as first in the nation for wind power generation and second in the nation for solar power generation and battery storage, according to the online State of Renewables 2025 dashboard released on Wednesday by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center.

This analysis comes as the Texas state legislature considers a bill that would unfairly target renewable energy development with burdensome restrictions and permitting requirements.

“Who says you can’t teach an old oil state new tricks? Texas is topping the charts in renewable energy—and we’re just getting warmed up,” said Ian Seamans, city hall Advocate with Environment Texas Research & Policy Center. “Texans are realizing the simple truth about renewable energy – power from the sun and wind doesn’t pollute, never runs out and shows up for free.”

In 2024, Texas produced the equivalent of 34% of the electricity it consumes from wind and solar power, compared with just 12% in 2015. Together, the wind and solar energy produced in Texas in 2024 could power 15.6M U.S. households for a year. 

Beyond top-ranking growth in wind and solar energy, Texas has also seen a 40-fold increase from 2014 to 2023 in the number of registered electric vehicles. Federal policies, combined with improving technologies and falling prices, have played a key role in driving adoption, according to the report.

“The state legislature shouldn’t throw away our renewable energy dominance. Instead, it should help more Texans utilize cheap, clean, and resilient energy sources by cutting the red tape for rooftop solar and supporting folks who want to put wind turbines on their land,” added Seamans.  

In addition to highlighting states that have made the most progress in adopting renewable energy technologies, the research also details the rapid gains achieved nationally over the past decade. According to the report, America produced more than three times as much renewable electricity from the sun and the wind in 2024 as in 2015. 

The dashboard documents the growth of six key clean energy technologies across the United States over the past decade: solar power, wind power, battery storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations. 

In 2023, 3.4 million Americans used tax credits for clean energy or energy efficiency home improvements, saving more than $8 billion. To help America harness its vast renewable energy potential, the authors recommend that Congress keep in place federal tax credits that allow more Americans to choose clean energy, and that state and local governments set policies that allow renewable energy to flourish.

“When we reduce energy waste and replace polluting energy sources with renewables, we’re building a safer, healthier world for ourselves and future generations,” said Johanna Neumann, senior director of Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy. “Now is the time to let more Americans choose clean energy, not make it harder for them.”