SOLAR TODAY - April 2011

municipal or privately owned units, and combine for only 19 MW.

5. California — 1 percent Natural gas-fired plants, nuclear facilities and hydroelectric dams combine to satisfy 85 percent of Californians’ electricity needs. The growing renewable energy sector, which encompasses geothermal, wind and solar, supplies most of the remaining electricity.

Five Surprising Coal Generators •;Virginia;—;35. 6;percent Five years ago, coal-fired power plants produced around 50 percent of Virginia’s electricity. But with renewable energy and hydroelectric sources still satisfying less than 5 percent of demand, it has been the natural gas industry that has most capitalized on coal’s gentle decline.

•;South;Dakota;—;32. 6;percent Hydroelectric dams on the Missouri River produce most of the state’s power — but the river isn’t reliable. In high-water years, the dams supply upwards of three-quarters of total electricity generation. In dry years, most recently in 2008, South Dakota’s two coal-fired plants generate more than half the state’s electricity.

•;Florida;—;26;percent Electricity generation in Florida is among the highest in the United States, owing to high demand for air-conditioning and the nation’s fourth-highest population. Florida now gets about 55 percent of its power from natural gas, just over a quarter from coal and about 13 percent from nuclear plants.

•;Hawaii;—;15.1;percent More than three-quarters of Hawaii’s electricity is generated by petroleum-fired power plants. The next largest source is the state’s single coal power plant, a 203-MW facility on the island of Oahu. Hawaii’s geothermal, solar, wind and tidal resources show much promise and are being pursued to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels.

•;Alaska;—;9. 4;percent Alaska has abundant coal reserves, but the industry has lagged behind the more successful natural gas and petroleum suppliers. While about 17 percent of the state’s electricity comes from hydroelectric sources, other renewable industries are still in their infancy. The remaining 83 percent of electricity generation in Alaska comes from fossil fuel sources, including natural gas plants and petroleum and coal-powered generators. ST