In the 12-month period from April 2025 to March 2026, Texas has generated electricity primarily from fossil and low-carbon sources, with both contributing nearly equally to the state's energy mix. Over half of Texas's electricity, approximately 59%, comes from fossil fuels, with natural gas alone accounting for close to half of this generation. Coal plays a smaller role, providing just over 11% of total electricity. The remaining 41% is provided by low-carbon sources like wind, solar, and nuclear. Wind energy leads the way among clean sources, contributing more than a fifth of the state's electricity. Solar power makes up nearly 12%, with utility-scale solar accounting for most of this. Nuclear power complements these sources by delivering close to 7% of Texas's electricity, highlighting the state's significant investment in diversifying its electricity generation portfolio with low-carbon options.

Is Electricity Growing in Texas?

The slight increase in per capita electricity consumption in Texas, from 18,773 kWh in 2025 to 18,798 kWh in 2026, signifies a stable yet growing demand for energy. While the change is marginal, it signals an upward trend in consumption which can present challenges if supply doesn't keep pace, particularly with the rising demand for low-carbon energy. Encouragingly, low-carbon electricity generation has outpaced this slow overall growth, with a noticeable increase of 212 kWh per person from the previous year. This progress demonstrates Texas's commitment to expanding clean energy and highlights the potential for low-carbon sources to play an increasingly vital role in meeting future electricity needs, in response to the pressures of climate change and the push for electrification.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Texas can focus on expanding existing wind and solar capacity. Given Texas's favorable conditions for both of these clean energy sources, additional investment will likely yield substantial returns in terms of increased generation capacity. The state can also look to regions and countries with successful strategies that align with its energy landscape. For example, Denmark and Iowa have impressive wind energy integration, contributing 60% and 57% of their electricity, respectively. Similarly, studying solar advancements in states like California and regions like Nevada, which generate up to 34% of their power from solar, can provide valuable insights. Additionally, despite being relatively underutilized, nuclear energy offers a significant clean energy opportunity. Texas can take cues from France, where nuclear power provides an overwhelming majority of electricity, or Illinois, where about 50% of electricity is nuclear, to build or expand its nuclear capacity, thus ensuring a reliable and sustainable electricity supply amidst growing demand.

History

Historically, Texas has shown varied trends in low-carbon electricity generation. In 2024, wind energy generation increased notably by 4.4 TWh, while nuclear power suffered a reduction of 2.1 TWh, highlighting the fluctuating nature of nuclear's contribution and a potential area for improvement. The following year, 2025, saw remarkable growth across the board. Wind surged by 5.2 TWh and nuclear rebounded significantly with a positive gain of 3 TWh. These developments were further complemented by a modest increase in hydroelectricity generation. However, in 2026, Texas witnessed a slowdown, with wind energy growth dropping to 2.7 TWh, and nuclear generation marginally contracting by 0.2 TWh. The challenges of ensuring consistent increases in low-carbon electricity generation underscore the importance of strategic planning and investment to fulfill Texas's future electricity requirements sustainably. With concerted efforts, Texas can continue to bolster its low-carbon electricity generation capacity, offering resilience against the adverse impacts of fossil fuel reliance.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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