From September 2024 to August 2025, North Dakota's electricity consumption heavily relied on fossil fuels. More than half of the electricity was generated from fossil sources, specifically around 58%. A majority of this came from coal, which contributed to over half of the electricity with 53%, while gas modestly added just over 5%. Low-carbon sources accounted for almost 42% of the electricity mix. Wind power led the way for clean electricity, supplying nearly 37%. Meanwhile, hydropower's contribution was just shy of 5%. This indicates a lukewarm effort in adopting low-carbon solutions when compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in North Dakota?
Concerning the trend in electricity consumption, North Dakota seems to be experiencing a decline. The state's electricity consumption, measured at 52,890 kWh per person in 2025, reflects a reduction of nearly 4,000 kWh per person from the record set in 2022. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation also saw a decrease, with 21,965 kWh per person in 2025 compared to 23,101 kWh per person in 2022, translating to a drop of over 1,100 kWh per person. This decline in both overall and clean electricity consumption is troubling and suggests that efforts need to be redoubled to bolster electricity generation—particularly from sustainable sources—to meet growing demands and counteract the reliance on fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To reverse this trend and increase low-carbon electricity generation, North Dakota could expand its successful wind sector. Observing regions like Iowa and Denmark, which produce 60% and 59% of their electricity from wind respectively, North Dakota can realize significant gains by leveraging its geographical potential for wind energy. Furthermore, integrating solar power would diversify its green energy portfolio. Learning from states like Nevada, where solar energy contributes 33% of electricity, and countries with substantial nuclear generation like France and Slovakia could also provide a holistic approach to addressing the electricity needs with clean energy substitutes. By investing in these two promising sources, North Dakota could increase its resilience against the fluctuating fossil fuel market and help mitigate environmental impacts.
History
Historically, North Dakota has made strides in the low-carbon sector, with wind energy showing a noticeable upward trend since the late 2000s. Wind power expansion was significant in the early 2010s, with consistent year-on-year increments, highlighted by a substantial increase in 2016 and 2017. Hydropower has seen alternating periods of rise and decline, with notable contributions in 2010, 2017, and 2018 before experiencing a dip in 2020. Despite a setback in wind energy generation in 2018 and more critically in 2023, there was a modest rebound in 2025. This historical trajectory underscores the importance of maintaining robust, continuous investment in low-carbon technologies to counter potential declines and ensure long-term sustainability in clean energy production.
