From July 2025 through June 2026, fossil fuels supplied almost 59% of North Dakota’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources accounted for about 41%. Coal dominated the mix at roughly 53%, with gas contributing another 5%. Wind was the largest clean electricity source, supplying about 36%, while hydropower provided nearly 6%. North Dakota therefore has a substantial low-carbon foundation, but more than half of its electricity still comes from fossil fuels, whose use contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in North Dakota?

Electricity consumption is growing in North Dakota and has reached a new per-person record. The latest 2026 figure is about 55,200 kWh per person, roughly 1,700 kWh—or 3%—above the previous record set in 2024. Low-carbon electricity generation also reached a new high of about 22,800 kWh per person, exceeding its 2025 record by roughly 770 kWh, or 3.5%. These gains are encouraging: expanding clean electricity alongside overall supply will help meet future demand from electrification and growing AI infrastructure.

Suggestions

North Dakota can build on its strong wind sector while adding solar and nuclear electricity. Nearby examples demonstrate the potential for further wind expansion: the US state of South Dakota generates 56% of its electricity from wind, while the US states of Iowa and Kansas reach 57% and 49%, respectively. For nuclear development, North Dakota can learn from the US states of Minnesota and Nebraska, where nuclear supplies about 19% and 16% of electricity, and from Illinois, where it supplies almost half. Solar offers another avenue for clean growth: the US states of Colorado and Utah generate about 14% and 20% of their electricity from solar. Drawing lessons from these regions could help North Dakota develop a broader low-carbon electricity mix and reduce its reliance on coal.

History

The available history shows steady growth in North Dakota’s low-carbon electricity generation from 2024 through 2026, led by wind. Wind generation increased by 0.3 TWh in 2024, accelerated by another 0.6 TWh in 2025, and added 0.3 TWh in 2026—a cumulative gain of 1.2 TWh. Hydropower experienced a small, disappointing decline of 0.1 TWh in 2024, but recovered that amount in 2025 and grew by a further 0.3 TWh in 2026. Together, these sources added a net 1.5 TWh over the three years, an encouraging foundation for continued clean electricity expansion.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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