Over the past year, from June 2024 to May 2025, Oklahoma's electricity consumption highlights a significant contribution from both fossil fuels and low-carbon energy sources. Fossil energy, primarily gas and coal, contributes to more than half of the total electricity generation, with gas at roughly 49% and coal at about 8%. On the low-carbon front, a substantial portion, equating to around 43% of the electricity generated, comes from clean energy sources. Wind power is a dominant force in this category, accounting for 41% of the generation. Hydropower contributes a small fraction, with just over 1.5%. This delineation showcases a promising transition towards cleaner energy, yet it still suggests ample room for growth given the significant reliance on fossil fuels.
Is Electricity Growing in Oklahoma?
Turning our attention to electricity consumption growth in Oklahoma, we observe a slight decline that raises concerns. The total electricity consumption in 2025 stands at approximately 22,538 kWh per person, which represents a drop of 658 kWh per person from the previous record in 2024. Similarly, clean energy generation has slightly decreased, with 2025 figures at 9,773 kWh per person compared to 9,948 kWh in 2024, marking a decline of 175 kWh. This downturn is worrying because growth in electricity generation, especially low-carbon electricity, is crucial to meet future demands driven by electrification and technological advancements.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Oklahoma could benefit from expanding its existing wind infrastructure, which already significantly contributes to the state's clean energy supply. Furthermore, Oklahoma could look to successful regions for guidance. South Dakota and Iowa, for example, generate a substantial majority of their electricity from wind at around 60% and 62% respectively, demonstrating the potential of wind energy. Additionally, Oklahoma could explore the scaling of solar energy, taking cues from Nevada and California, where solar energy contributes close to 30% and 20% of electricity generation. Nuclear energy also represents a robust path forward, as seen in states like Illinois and France, where it contributes more than half and up to 69% of electricity, respectively.
History
Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Oklahoma, a significant shift towards wind energy has been apparent over the last few decades. In the early 2010s, there was a notable increase in wind electricity generation, with growth spurts such as 1.8 TWh in 2011 and escalating to 3 TWh in 2013. This upward trend continued more recently with an increase of up to 5 TWh in 2022. Hydropower, on the other hand, has experienced fluctuations, notably declining by 2 TWh in 2006 but rebounding with increments such as 2.4 TWh in 2007. However, hydro has seen decreases in more recent years, highlighting the consistent and robust growth of wind as Oklahoma's mainstay clean energy source. Fostering further advancements in wind, along with embracing new technologies such as solar and nuclear, will lay a resilient foundation for Oklahoma's low-carbon future.