From July 2025 through June 2026, fossil fuels supplied almost two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources provided about 35%. Gas dominated at roughly 57%, with coal contributing another 7%. Nuclear was by far the largest clean electricity source, supplying almost a third of consumption. Solar and wind each contributed around 1.5%. Pennsylvania therefore has a substantial nuclear foundation, but still relies heavily on fossil electricity, with its associated climate and air-pollution impacts.

Is Electricity Growing in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania’s electricity consumption is not currently growing on a per-person basis. The latest 2026 figure was about 18,800 kWh per person, roughly 200 kWh, or 1%, below the 2025 record of nearly 19,000 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation, however, edged up to a new record of about 6,550 kWh per person, exceeding the 2025 record by 33 kWh, or around 0.5%. That clean electricity growth is welcome, but its modest pace and the decline in consumption underscore the need to prepare for greater electricity demand from electrification and AI. These per-person figures alone do not establish whether total statewide consumption grew.

Suggestions

Pennsylvania should build on its existing nuclear strength by expanding output at existing plants where feasible and considering additional nuclear capacity, alongside a substantial solar expansion and suitable wind development. Relevant examples include the US states of Illinois, where nuclear supplies about half of electricity generation, and New Hampshire, where it supplies slightly more than half; France demonstrates an even larger nuclear contribution at about two-thirds. For solar, the US state of Maine’s 18% share and Germany’s 20% show that substantial deployment is possible outside the sunniest regions. For wind, Pennsylvania can learn from the US state of Illinois, with 13%, and the US state of Iowa, with 57%. These regions offer useful benchmarks rather than identical templates: Pennsylvania can adapt their experience to expand clean electricity and reduce fossil-fuel dependence.

History

Across 2024–2026, the reported changes show mostly small fluctuations rather than sustained low-carbon expansion. Nuclear generation rose by 0.1 TWh in 2024, fell by 0.4 TWh in 2025, and recovered by 0.3 TWh in 2026, leaving no net gain across those annual changes. Wind was unchanged in 2024, increased by 0.3 TWh in 2025, and declined by 0.1 TWh in 2026, for a net increase of 0.2 TWh. Hydropower declined in every year, losing 0.4 TWh altogether, while biofuel generation remained unchanged. Overall, these listed sources recorded a net decline of 0.2 TWh—a disappointing lack of progress that strengthens the case for sustained nuclear and solar 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.