States with strong renewable energy portfolio standards or goals tend to outperform others when it comes to adding solar, wind, biomass and other emerging renewable energy forms, according to new research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
So far, 36 states have renewable energy portfolio standards or goals, and 43 have net-metering laws.
As of 2007, Washington led all states in renewable energy generation at 82 million MWh, followed by California (52 million), Oregon (35 million), New York (28 million) and Texas (12 million). It should be noted that Washington, Oregon and New York derive most of their renewable energy from hydroelectric sources.
When it comes to non-hydroelectric renewable energy, California leads at 24 million MWh, followed by Texas (10.2 million), Florida (4.3 million), Maine (4.2 million) and Minnesota (3.9 million).
California has nearly 530,000 kilowatts of direct current solar (kWdc) connected to the grid, followed by New Jersey (70,000 kWdc), Colorado (35,ooo kWdc), Nevada (34,000 kWdc) and Arizona (25,000 kWdc).
Texas leads all states in wind power capacity at 7,117 MW, followed by Iowa (2,791 MW), California (2,503 MW), Minnesota (1,753 MW) and Washington (1,446 MW).
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