In Iowa, electricity consumption over the past 12 months, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026, has been mainly characterized by a robust reliance on low-carbon sources, which account for nearly two-thirds of the state's electricity. Wind power stands out as the dominant player among these clean energy sources, contributing to more than half of Iowa's electricity with 57%. Solar energy, while not as dominant, has still made a positive contribution, providing 2.5%. Other low-carbon sources like hydropower add a small but meaningful presence at just under 2%. However, almost 40% of Iowa's electricity still comes from fossil fuels, primarily coal at over a quarter and natural gas adding around 12%, highlighting room for improvement in reducing reliance on fossil fuels to combat climate change and pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Iowa?

Despite the strong contribution from low-carbon sources, Iowa's electricity consumption per person has seen a slight decline, suggesting that overall electricity usage has not grown. In 2026, the total electricity consumption reached 22,952 kWh/person, which is slightly less than the previous record of 23,032 kWh/person in 2025, showing a drop of 80 kWh. The same trend is evident in low-carbon electricity generation, which fell by 288 kWh/person from the previous year's record. The marginal decrease is indicative of stagnation in growth, which is concerning when recognizing the urgent need for increased electricity generation to support ongoing electrification efforts and to stay on track with future energy demands.

Suggestions

To boost low-carbon electricity generation in Iowa, the state can further expand its wind power infrastructure, leveraging its existing strengths in this area. Considering successful regions can offer insights into other green energy opportunities; for instance, states like Illinois and New Hampshire demonstrate the potential of nuclear energy, contributing about 50% and 54%, respectively, to their electricity mix. Additionally, lessons from Nevada and California, where solar energy has scaled up to significant percentages (34% and 31% respectively), can inform Iowa's strategies to enhance its clean energy footprint. A hybrid approach incorporating both increased wind capacity and exploring new avenues like solar and nuclear energy can bolster the state's position as a leader in sustainable electricity.

History

Historically, Iowa's progress in low-carbon electricity has fluctuated over recent years. In 2024, there was notable growth with wind contributing an additional 2.8 TWh and a minor increase in hydroelectric power by 0.1 TWh. However, 2025 saw a slight setback with wind energy decreasing by 0.5 TWh, followed by further reductions in 2026 by 1.1 TWh, which raises concerns. Encouragingly, hydropower managed a small upswing in 2026 with an increase of 0.2 TWh. Such trends underscore the need to not only maintain but also diversify and strengthen clean energy investments to ensure sustainable growth and reliability in Iowa’s electricity landscape.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.