Electricity consumption in Louisiana over the year stretching from September 2024 to August 2025 shows a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, with about 70% of the electricity derived from these sources. Gas is the dominant fossil fuel, contributing more than 60%, while coal accounts for a small fraction at just over 4%. In terms of low-carbon or clean energy, Louisiana generates almost 18% of its electricity from these sources. Nuclear power plays a significant role, producing around 13% of the electricity, with solar energy providing a modest share of over 2%. Other low-carbon sources like biofuels contribute less than 2% of the state’s electricity. Additionally, net imports make up approximately 12% of the electricity supply.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Louisiana?
Despite the substantial reliance on fossil fuels, electricity consumption per person in Louisiana is experiencing a decline. The latest annual consumption figure is 24,934 kWh/person, marking a decrease from the previous record in 2022 amounted to 26,092 kWh/person. This drop of approximately 1,158 kWh/person reflects a contraction in overall electricity usage. Furthermore, the state’s low-carbon electricity generation is also not keeping pace, with the latest generation figures at 4,462 kWh/person, down from the previous high of 4,888 kWh/person recorded in 2010. This downward trend of 426 kWh/person in low-carbon generation indicates a worrying stagnation in the growth of clean energy, hindering efforts to move towards a more sustainable energy mix.
Suggestions
To foster the expansion of low-carbon electricity generation, Louisiana can draw inspiration from successful regions in harnessing nuclear and solar energy. With nuclear power already a notable component of the state's low-carbon portfolio, further investment in this area, taking cues from countries like France (where nuclear contributes 70% of electricity) and states such as Illinois (51% nuclear), could significantly boost clean electricity output. Similarly, growing solar energy capacity could align Louisiana with regions like Nevada, which generates about one-third of its electricity from solar, or California's nearly 30% from solar energy. Expanding both solar and nuclear capacities will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating their adverse impacts on climate and air quality.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Louisiana displays a series of fluctuations, particularly in the nuclear sector. In the mid-2000s, nuclear power showed an upward trend until notable declines in some years, such as a 2 TWh drop in 2011. After some recovery, the nuclear sector suffered again with a reduction of 3.2 TWh in 2019 and 4 TWh in 2023. However, recent years offer some optimism with the sector recovering by 2.4 TWh in 2024. These fluctuations highlight the need for a more consistent and strategic investment in clean energy infrastructure. Steadying these ebbs and flows, and propelling growth, will ensure that Louisiana can sustainably increase its clean electricity generation over the coming decades.
