South Dakota already gets almost 83% of its electricity from low-carbon sources—a substantial clean-electricity achievement. Over the 12 months from July 2025 through June 2026, wind supplied more than half of its electricity, at about 56%, hydropower contributed roughly 25%, and solar added about 2%. Fossil fuels supplied the remaining 17%, with gas accounting for about 10% and coal around 8%. South Dakota is also a significant net exporter of electricity, helping neighboring regions lower their emissions. Its next challenge is to electrify transport, heating and industry, which will require much more electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in South Dakota?

Electricity consumption is growing, with the latest 2026 figure reaching about 23,970 kWh per person. That exceeds the previous record, set in 2025, by 580 kWh per person—an increase of roughly 2.5%. Low-carbon electricity generation also reached a new high of about 19,790 kWh per person, up 543 kWh per person, or nearly 3%, from its 2025 record. These gains are encouraging: clean electricity generation per person grew slightly faster than consumption, supporting further electrification.

Suggestions

South Dakota can build on its success by expanding wind generation, which already supplies large amounts of low-carbon electricity. Additional transmission capacity and storage would help deliver more wind electricity to local consumers and neighboring regions. Expanding solar would complement this established clean-electricity base, while considering nuclear generation could provide another source of dependable low-carbon electricity as demand grows. Together, these investments could support electrification and growing electricity needs, including those associated with AI, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and air pollution.

History

The recent history shows strong growth in low-carbon electricity, led by wind. In 2024, wind generation increased by 2.7 TWh, alongside a 0.3 TWh rise in hydropower, while biofuel generation was unchanged. Growth continued in 2025, when wind added another 0.6 TWh and hydropower increased by 0.3 TWh. In 2026, hydropower rose more strongly, adding 0.7 TWh, although wind generation slipped by 0.2 TWh. That wind decline is disappointing after two years of gains, but the larger hydropower increase kept the combined contribution of these two clean sources growing.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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