Clean tech research firm Clean Edge, Inc. has released its annual State Clean Energy Index report for 2012, showing the top ten states getting the most power from wind, solar, and geothermal sources. California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado, New York, Illinois, New Mexico, Vermont, and Minnesota are leading the way in the U.s. on using renewable energy to meet their power needs.
The Index combines research based on 70 industry-related indicators of a state’s clean energy investments, leadership, policies, and performance to produce a Leadership Index Score between 0 and 100. California has received top honors for the third year in a row with a score of 91.1 out of 100, leading the way on new technologies, renewable energy capacity, hybrid and EV vehicle registrations, and green building. Mississippi placed last on the list, garnering a score of just 4.1.
This year also marks a doubling in the number of states getting at least 10 percent of their power from renewable energy sources. Six states have now reached that benchmark, with South Dakota generating 22 percent of their energy needs from wind power alone. Depending on who you ask, however, that number could be as high as nine states rather than just six. Greentech Media points out that the U.S. Energy Information Administration noted that there are nine states getting at least 10 percent of their power from renewables, as Clean Edge does not count biogas or hydropower in their report. Those technologies are a major source of energy for the states of Maine, Minnesota and Idaho.
Some additional highlights from the 2012 State Clean Energy Index:
- California’s clean-energy investment total in 2011 exceeds all 49 other states combined by a whopping $1 billion
- Clean tech patents in 2011 exceeded the one-thousand mark for the first time
- There are now nearly 2 million hybrid vehicles registered n the U.S.
This year marks the third year in which Clean Edge has released its annual State Clean Energy Index.
Image Credit: Port of San Diego/Flickr