In 2025, fossil fuels supplied about 61% of Alabama’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources supplied the remaining 39%. Gas accounted for almost 46% of electricity and coal for about 15%. Nuclear was the backbone of clean electricity, providing 30% of the total, followed by hydropower at nearly 6% and biofuels at just over 2%. Alabama therefore has a substantial low-carbon foundation, but fossil fuels still supply more than half its electricity, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Alabama?

Alabama’s latest figures show a decline rather than growth in electricity consumption per person. Consumption reached about 27,400 kWh per person in 2025, roughly 300 kWh, or 1%, below the record set in 2024. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 10,700 kWh per person, around 690 kWh, or 6%, below its 2023 peak. These setbacks are concerning as electrification and AI create additional electricity demand. These per-person figures do not, however, establish whether statewide total consumption or generation increased or decreased.

Suggestions

Alabama can increase clean electricity generation by expanding its existing nuclear fleet’s output through capacity upgrades and pursuing additional nuclear capacity, while accelerating solar deployment. The nearby US state of South Carolina, where nuclear supplies about 52% of electricity, offers a particularly relevant example of a stronger nuclear contribution. For solar, Alabama can learn from the US state of Florida, where solar supplies about 11% of electricity, and the US state of Texas, where it supplies 12%. Texas also generates 22% of its electricity from wind, illustrating another option Alabama could assess at suitable locations. Together, nuclear expansion, solar development and appropriately located wind projects could support growing electricity demand while reducing fossil-fuel dependence.

History

The supplied historical data cover 2024 and 2025, when Alabama’s nuclear electricity generation fell by 1.1 TWh and then another 1.8 TWh—a combined decline of 2.9 TWh. This loss of substantial clean electricity output is a serious setback, making recovery and expansion of nuclear generation an important priority. Hydropower also declined slightly, by 0.1 TWh in each year. Biofuel generation increased by 0.1 TWh in 2024 and remained unchanged in 2025. Overall, these two years show an unwelcome retreat in low-carbon electricity generation rather than the sustained growth Alabama needs.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade