In the period spanning from September 2024 to August 2025, West Virginia's electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 90% derived from such sources. Specifically, coal dominates this domain, contributing nearly 86% to the state's electricity generation. Close to 7% of the state's electricity originates from low-carbon sources, with wind and hydropower being the leading contributors of clean energy: wind accounts for just over 4% and hydropower for more than 2.5%. This reliance on fossil fuels reflects the historical trend of coal dependency in West Virginia, while the share of clean energy remains relatively modest. Understanding this distribution is crucial as it highlights the significant room for growth in low-carbon energy adoption.

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Is Electricity Growing in West Virginia?

Comparing electricity consumption over time reveals a concerning downward trajectory in West Virginia, where the latest figure stands at 28,608 kWh per person. The state last saw its peak electricity consumption, at over 51,000 kWh per person, in 2005, indicating a decline of around 22,800 kWh per person. In the realm of low-carbon energies, the current generation marginally decreased to 2,061 kWh per person, down by just 5 kWh from its 2022 peak. These numbers highlight a stagnation in low-carbon energy growth, alongside an overall decline in electricity usage. This highlights a reduction in electricity consumption at a time when increasing the adoption of sustainable energy sources is critical for a clean energy future.

Suggestions

To bolster its clean electricity generation, West Virginia can draw valuable lessons from other regions. Notably, states like Iowa and South Dakota have significantly increased wind energy generation, accounting for 60% and 57% of their electricity, respectively. These jurisdictions demonstrate the potential for wind energy expansion, which West Virginia could emulate. Moreover, exploring nuclear energy as an option presents a promising pathway, as exemplified by France, where nuclear energy makes up 69% of the electricity mix. By investing in both solar and nuclear energy, regions have successfully increased their low-carbon electricity share, fostering energy security and sustainability. Emulating these strategies could enable West Virginia to transition towards a more diversified and cleaner energy portfolio.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in West Virginia shows a series of modest developments. In the late 2000s, there were some small increases in both wind and hydroelectric power, with significant contributions from wind in 2008 and 2009. However, adjustments in hydropower from the late 2000s to the mid-2010s included both upward and downward shifts, leading to mixed overall progress. For example, in 2014, hydropower generation decreased by 0.5 TWh. From 2017 onward, wind energy experienced incremental rises, particularly in 2022 when it increased by 0.4 TWh. Despite these fluctuations, West Virginia's low-carbon electricity growth remains limited, underscoring the urgent call for substantial investment and expansion in clean energy technologies, such as solar and nuclear power. The importance of a strategic shift towards growing these clean energy sources cannot be overemphasized, especially in the face of ongoing environmental challenges linked to fossil fuels, such as climate change and air pollution.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade