In 2013, 12 states accounted for 80% of U.S. wind-generated electricity, according to preliminary generation data released in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) March Electric Power Monthly report.
The EIA says Texas was again the top wind power state with nearly 36 million MWh of electricity. Iowa was second, with more than 15 million MWh, followed by California, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, North Dakota and Wyoming.
These 12 states produced a combined 134 million MWh of electricity from wind. Nationwide, the EIA says 167 million MWh of power came from wind in 2013, a 19% increase from 2012. Wind power also increased its share of U.S. total electricity generation last year from 3.5% to 4.1%.
The EIA says all but 13 states reported some generation from wind, and 23 states increased their wind generation more than 10% above 2012 production levels. Notably, California's wind generation exceeded geothermal generation for the first time in 2013.
The proportion of wind to total electricity generated varied widely by state. The EIA says Iowa led the nation in wind generation share, with 27.4% of net electricity production coming from wind turbines. Second was South Dakota, at 26%. Other states with more than twice the national share of 4.1% wind power were Kansas, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming and Texas.
