From July 2025 through June 2026, almost 62% of electricity consumed in the US state of Iowa came from low-carbon sources, while about 38% came from fossil fuels. Wind dominated the clean electricity mix, supplying more than half of all electricity—about 57%. Solar contributed roughly 2.5%, including about 1.8% from utility-scale installations, while hydropower supplied nearly 2%. Coal still accounted for about 27% of electricity and gas for 11%, leaving substantial scope for clean electricity to replace fossil generation and reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Iowa?

Iowa’s electricity consumption per person is growing, reaching a new record of about 23,400 kWh in the latest 2026 figures. That is roughly 350 kWh per person, or 1.5%, above the previous record set in 2025. Low-carbon electricity generation also reached a record, at about 14,500 kWh per person, but increased by only 34 kWh per person—roughly 0.2%. These records are welcome, although the near-stagnation in clean generation is concerning: low-carbon electricity needs to grow faster to support electrification and rising demand from AI. These per-person figures alone do not establish how much statewide electricity consumption grew.

Suggestions

Iowa should build on its considerable wind success by expanding wind generation, while accelerating solar deployment and considering new nuclear generation. Nearby regions offer useful examples: the US state of Illinois generates almost half its electricity from nuclear power, while the neighboring US states of Minnesota and Nebraska generate about 19% and 16%, respectively. Their experience offers practical lessons for developing a substantial nuclear contribution alongside Iowa’s wind fleet. For solar, the US state of Colorado generates about 14% of its electricity from the sun, while Germany reaches about 20%, demonstrating opportunities beyond the sunniest regions. A broader mix of wind, solar and nuclear could help Iowa deliver more clean electricity for future demand.

History

Recent history shows a strong wind expansion followed by disappointing setbacks. In 2024, wind generation increased by 2.8 TWh and hydropower added 0.1 TWh. Wind then declined by 0.5 TWh in 2025 and another 0.2 TWh in 2026, partially eroding that earlier gain and highlighting the need for renewed growth. Hydropower was unchanged in 2025 before increasing by 0.3 TWh in 2026, providing a welcome clean electricity gain. Biofuel electricity generation, also counted as low-carbon, remained unchanged throughout these three years. Overall, the reported changes remained positive across 2024–2026, but stronger and more sustained expansion is needed.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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