Renewables make electricity more expensive: false
False The claim: “Renewables make electricity more expensive” Across 51 states, a bigger renewable share does not line up with a higher price. 3 of the 10 most renewable states sit above the median price of 15.4 cents; 6 of the 10 least renewable do. This is a pattern, not a cause.
The 10 most renewable states: 14.4 cents
We rank the 51 states by the share of 2025 net generation that came from wind, utility solar, hydro and other renewables (EIA-923), then compare with the 2025 home price (EIA). The top 10, led by Vermont, have a median price of 14.4 cents; the bottom 10, ending with Connecticut, 16.2.
3 of the top 10 are above the all-state median of 15.4 cents, 6 of the bottom 10. Among the 10 highest-priced states, 6 have a renewable share above the median.
Group medians and the scatter
| Group | Mean renewable share, % | Median price, ¢ | Lowest price, ¢ | Highest price, ¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 most renewable | 67.0 | 14.40 | 11.82 | 32.54 |
| Middle 31 | 23.3 | 15.47 | 11.81 | 40.59 |
| 10 least renewable | 5.7 | 16.19 | 12.57 | 29.38 |
r = -0.07; r squared 0.6%. Renewable = wind, utility solar, hydro and other renewables in EIA-923 generation inside the state.
A pattern with many hidden parts
Our table cannot separate renewables from everything else that sets a price: fuel costs, network costs, taxes, climate and the mix of customers. For example Hawaii has a renewable share of 21.7% and the highest price, and Vermont leads on renewables at 22.92 cents. We make no claim that renewables raise or cut a price. The share also counts generation inside the state, not the power a utility buys from elsewhere.
All 51 states by renewable share, 100% to 4%
| Vermont | 99.8 | 18.9 | 10.3 | 49.7 | 22.92 | 1 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 79.5 | 58.2 | 2.0 | 19.2 | 13.38 | 2 | 38 |
| Washington | 73.2 | 8.0 | 0.6 | 63.6 | 13.11 | 3 | 44 |
| Idaho | 68.5 | 13.9 | 8.0 | 43.6 | 11.82 | 4 | 50 |
| Oregon | 64.5 | 13.9 | 4.2 | 44.7 | 15.37 | 5 | 26 |
| Iowa | 62.0 | 58.5 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 13.72 | 6 | 36 |
| Maine | 57.8 | 19.6 | 10.0 | 17.2 | 27.78 | 7 | 6 |
| Montana | 56.3 | 23.3 | 1.3 | 31.6 | 12.98 | 8 | 46 |
| California | 55.3 | 7.4 | 26.8 | 13.7 | 32.54 | 9 | 2 |
| New Mexico | 52.9 | 36.5 | 15.9 | 0.3 | 15.08 | 10 | 30 |
| Kansas | 48.0 | 47.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 14.56 | 11 | 33 |
| Oklahoma | 45.3 | 41.5 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 13.12 | 12 | 43 |
| Nevada | 44.2 | 0.8 | 30.8 | 4.2 | 13.15 | 13 | 42 |
| Colorado | 43.2 | 30.1 | 9.9 | 3.0 | 15.85 | 14 | 22 |
| District of Columbia | 43.2 | 0.0 | 18.4 | 0.0 | 21.94 | 15 | 12 |
| North Dakota | 40.6 | 35.9 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 11.81 | 16 | 51 |
| Minnesota | 33.7 | 25.4 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 15.82 | 17 | 23 |
| Nebraska | 33.1 | 29.3 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 12.34 | 18 | 49 |
| Texas | 33.0 | 21.6 | 11.0 | 0.1 | 15.47 | 19 | 24 |
| Wyoming | 30.8 | 27.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 13.38 | 20 | 39 |
| New York | 28.7 | 5.4 | 3.2 | 19.0 | 26.39 | 21 | 7 |
| Alaska | 25.8 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 23.5 | 26.09 | 22 | 8 |
| Utah | 22.2 | 2.1 | 17.4 | 1.4 | 13.07 | 23 | 45 |
| Hawaii | 21.7 | 6.2 | 10.2 | 0.8 | 40.59 | 24 | 1 |
| Arizona | 20.3 | 2.7 | 13.3 | 4.1 | 15.32 | 25 | 27 |
| Massachusetts | 17.2 | 0.8 | 9.2 | 3.3 | 30.48 | 26 | 3 |
| Illinois | 16.7 | 13.1 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 17.69 | 27 | 17 |
| Indiana | 16.2 | 9.5 | 6.2 | 0.3 | 16.23 | 28 | 20 |
| Arkansas | 14.1 | 0.3 | 6.9 | 5.7 | 12.84 | 29 | 47 |
| Tennessee | 13.9 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 11.6 | 13.18 | 30 | 41 |
| North Carolina | 13.8 | 0.7 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 14.02 | 31 | 35 |
| Wisconsin | 13.6 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 2.9 | 18.16 | 32 | 16 |
| Missouri | 13.1 | 9.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 13.49 | 33 | 37 |
| Georgia | 12.8 | 0.0 | 7.6 | 1.9 | 14.73 | 34 | 32 |
| New Hampshire | 12.6 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 5.7 | 24.56 | 35 | 9 |
| Michigan | 12.5 | 7.8 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 20.01 | 36 | 13 |
| Virginia | 12.4 | 0.1 | 8.2 | 1.0 | 15.28 | 37 | 28 |
| Rhode Island | 11.1 | 2.0 | 7.1 | 0.1 | 29.46 | 38 | 4 |
| Florida | 10.6 | 0.0 | 9.3 | 0.1 | 15.24 | 39 | 29 |
| Maryland | 10.2 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 19.48 | 40 | 14 |
| Alabama | 9.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 6.0 | 16.10 | 41 | 21 |
| Kentucky | 8.7 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 6.0 | 13.24 | 42 | 40 |
| Ohio | 8.1 | 2.0 | 5.5 | 0.3 | 16.96 | 43 | 19 |
| West Virginia | 6.8 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 15.41 | 44 | 25 |
| South Carolina | 6.3 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 14.96 | 45 | 31 |
| Mississippi | 6.0 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 14.03 | 46 | 34 |
| Louisiana | 5.1 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 12.57 | 47 | 48 |
| Delaware | 4.2 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 17.13 | 48 | 18 |
| Pennsylvania | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 19.30 | 49 | 15 |
| New Jersey | 3.6 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 22.63 | 50 | 11 |
| Connecticut | 3.6 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 29.38 | 51 | 5 |
Vermont leads at 99.8% renewable and 22.92 ¢; Connecticut is last at 3.6% and 29.38 ¢.
CSVFive states at each end
Most renewable, with home price: Vermont 100% and 22.9 cents; South Dakota 80% and 13.4 cents; Washington 73% and 13.1 cents; Idaho 68% and 11.8 cents; Oregon 64% and 15.4 cents.
Least renewable: Connecticut 4% and 29.4 cents; New Jersey 4% and 22.6 cents; Pennsylvania 4% and 19.3 cents; Delaware 4% and 17.1 cents; Louisiana 5% and 12.6 cents. Prices in the first five run 11.8 to 22.9 cents, in the last five 12.6 to 29.4.
Find your state
Pick a state to see its renewable share and price.
How to read the verdict
A verdict of False means the numbers here do not support the claim as a general rule: r = -0.07 is close to zero, and r squared of 0.6% leaves nearly all of the price spread unexplained. It does not say that no individual project ever raised a bill.
The five states with the largest wind share are Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico; their prices are 13.7, 13.4, 14.6, 13.1, 15.1 cents.
Map: renewable share by state
- 4% to 9%
- 9% to 14%
- 14% to 31%
- 31% to 53%
- 53% to 100%
Darker = more renewable generation inside the state. Range 3.6% to 99.8%.
Keep reading
Sources and dates
| Source | Data period | Retrieved | Used here for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIA-923 generation (2025 final) and EIA-860 generator file (2025) | data year 2025 | 2 Oct 2026 | Share of net generation by fuel, 2025 |
| EIA electricity retail sales, annual and monthly (API v2) | annual 2010 to 2025, monthly to Jul 2026 | 1 Oct 2026 | Home price 2025 |
Questions
Do renewables make electricity more expensive?
Not as a general pattern in our data: r = -0.07 between renewable share and home price across 51 states. This tests association, not cause.
Which state has the highest renewable share?
Vermont at 99.8%, with a home price of 22.92 cents; South Dakota follows at 79.5% and 13.38 cents.
Which states have the least?
Connecticut at 3.6% and New Jersey at 3.6%.
What counts as renewable here?
Wind, utility-scale solar, hydro and other renewables such as biomass, as a share of each state's net generation in EIA-923 for 2025. Nuclear is not in the figure.
Is rooftop solar included?
Only partly: EIA-923 covers utility-scale plants. Small rooftop systems are not in the generation share.
Why not compare cost of building renewables?
Our data holds prices customers pay and generation shares, not project costs or subsidies, so we do not rank technologies by cost.
How different are the groups?
Median price 14.4 cents in the 10 most renewable states, 16.2 in the 10 least; the all-state median is 15.4.
What years are used?
Generation shares are 2025 (EIA-923); home prices are the 2025 annual average (EIA retail sales).