U.S. Energy Generation Continues to Grow

New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that total U.S. electricity generation hit a record high in the first quarter of 2024. Output reached 1,030 terawatt-hours (TWh) from January through March, more than any previous first quarter on record. The spike reflects rising demand across sectors, compounded by colder-than-average weather in parts of the country, which drove heating loads higher.

While generation rose across the board, what fueled that growth varied sharply across states and the time of year. A companion analysis by Canary Media, drawing on new data from the climate think tank Ember, offers a snapshot of the shifting makeup of the U.S. energy mix, and illustrates regional disparities in the transition to more renewable energy.

According to Ember, March 2025 marked the second month of the quarter in which renewables outproduced fossil fuels. Renewable sources, primarily wind, solar, and hydro, along with other renewable sources supplied 51% of the nation’s electricity in March, while fossil fuels combined provided just 49%. The record came amid strong seasonal wind performance and growing solar deployment, particularly in Texas and parts of the Midwest, accounting for 28 total states.

Ember’s data highlights how this plays out on the ground:

●       Four U.S. states now generate more than half their electricity from wind and solar.

●       Other states with major shares include Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota, where strong wind resources and transmission investments have driven high penetration.

●       Meanwhile, large parts of the Southeast and portions of the West remain overwhelmingly reliant on fossil fuels, especially natural gas.

The March peak for renewables followed a slightly lower February, in which natural gas returned to the top spot due to colder temperatures and more constrained renewable output. This variability underscores the grid’s current state: renewables are surging, but fossil fuels still provide critical baseload capacity and winter reliability. As of 2024, petroleum made up 46% of all fossil fuel energy generation, with natural gas at 44% and coal at 9%.

The bigger takeaway is that demand is growing rapidly, and the question of how to meet it is increasingly being defined by geography. States like Iowa and New Mexico are already generating the majority of their electricity from zero-carbon sources. Others lag behind due to legacy generation portfolios, policy frameworks, constituent opposition or infrastructure constraints.

As the U.S. grid continues to move toward record demand levels, surpassing previous norms even in non-summer months, the debate is no longer just about reducing fossil fuel use, but about how different regions can continue to build an energy mix that supports reliability, affordability, and decarbonization at the same time.