South Dakota, an unexpected leader in renewable energy

When some people picture the future of renewable energy, they imagine solar rooftops in California, wind farms off the coast of New England or electric vehicle charging stations in New York. But the most impressive clean energy producer in the country isn’t on the coast; it’s in the heart of the Great Plains.

Renewables in the heart of America

South Dakota, better known for cattle ranches, cornfields and the granite faces of Mount Rushmore, is now generating a higher percentage of its electricity from renewable sources than any other state in the nation.

According to Environment America’s 2024 State of Renewables Report, South Dakota generated enough renewable energy to cover 92% of all the electricity sold in the state, with wind power being the main source.

This wasn’t the result of climate change policies or a big city initiative. It happened in a rural state, driven by simple geography and practicality. 

South Dakota: A natural fit for clean power

South Dakota’s renewable transformation didn’t happen by accident. It’s rooted in the land itself.

Wind power alone generates more than half of South Dakota’s electricity. The state’s flat terrain, steady winds and open landscapes make it one of the most effective regions in the country for reliable and consistent wind. Wind energy helps South Dakota avoid more than 10 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of taking 2.2 million cars off the road.

Since 2019, wind generation in South Dakota has more than quadrupled. Today, South Dakota’s 29 wind projects produce enough electricity to power more than 2 million homes, far more than the roughly 360,000 in the state. 

Alongside wind, South Dakota relies on hydroelectric power, mainly major dams on the Missouri River, which accounted for 21% of the state’s power in 2023. However, hydropower comes with trade-offs, for instance, after the Missouri was dammed populations of cottonwood trees along the river plummeted, reducing nesting areas for birds and valuable habitat for countless species.

While we generally oppose hydropower, and wish to see a day when rivers like the Missouri can flow freely once again, hydropower still remains an important source of power for many communities. And while it’s not as environmentally safe as wind and solar it’s far from as harmful as pollutive fossil fuels.

Solar is still a small player in South Dakota energy, but it seems to be growing. The state generated just 4 gigawatt hours (GWh) of solar power in 2022, but thanks to improving technology, falling prices and the solar market coming to scale, in 2024, that number had grown nearly 100 fold to 346 GWh. That’s roughly enough energy to power 35,000 average U.S. homes. 

South Dakota’s renewable energy success offers a blueprint for other states. By utilizing their own unique geography, climate and open land, other states can also take advantage of their inherent strengths while maintaining a diverse and robust energy grid.

Renewable energy benefits rural communities 

For South Dakota and other rural states, renewable energy offers independence and community resilience.  

Traditionally, rural communities have had less control over their power than most. Electricity is often generated hundreds of miles away, and prices are dictated by markets or companies far removed from the people actually using the power. With renewable energy, especially wind and solar, that’s beginning to shift.

When a local farmer leases part of their land for a wind turbine, that farm becomes a power producer. When a rural landowner installs solar arrays, the community gains a measure of control over its own energy supply. When we allow battery energy storage to be built near where we live, we can store some of that renewable energy for later. And when energy is harnessed close to where it’s used, less is lost in transmission, and more of the benefits stay local.

That kind of autonomy appeals to landowners. Renewable energy offers communities a way to meet their needs without waiting on outside actors, be it a distant utility or far-away supplier. Renewable energy provides stability during price spikes and control over their own community’s resources. 

That stability also creates opportunity. Environment America and the state environmental groups in our network support renewable energy because it’s good for the environment. That’s our mission. In South Dakota, as well as other states, many people have also embraced renewable energy because it supports local economies and jobs. 

In South Dakota, clean power generates more than 2,700 jobs, that includes construction crews, electrical workers, engineers, land surveyors, repair people and more. Besides cheaper energy and job opportunity, local economies also benefit from tax credits and new infrastructure, all while building a cleaner, more self-reliant future.

Renewable energy can also help communities remain resilient and functional in times of crisis, and as extreme weather grows more frequent, that kind of dependability is becoming essential. Pair wind and solar with modern battery storage, and rural communities don’t just weather storms, they thrive. Local hospitals, farms and families can stay powered even when the greater regional grid fails, and these batteries continue to get better — holding more power, becoming cheaper to produce and making renewable energy more efficient and rewarding than ever.

Beyond South Dakota: A rural energy revolution

South Dakota might be an impressive standout, but it’s far from the only state that’s getting energy from its abundant renewable resources. The U.S. produced more than three times as much solar, wind and geothermal power in 2024 than in 2015, with growth in every single state.

Across the country, other rural states are emerging as leaders in renewable energy. In 2024: 

• 83% of Iowa’s electricity sales came from renewable sources, 
• Kansas generated 74%, 
• New Mexico hit 67%, 
• Wyoming reached 57%, and
• Oklahoma made 54% 

While these states differ politically, geographically and culturally, they share a key trait. They’re all making progress when it comes to efficiently harnessing their natural advantages, be it wind, water, sun or land, to build cleaner, healthier and more resilient energy systems.

For many of these states, clean energy isn’t a replacement for traditional industries, it’s an extension of them. The same fields that grow corn or graze cattle can also host wind turbines. The same communities that once sent goods downriver can now operate (ideally small) hydroelectric dams. The same houses, whose roofs once blocked out the beating sun, can now harness it.

Clean energy can also diversify rural economies. Wind and other renewables generate payments for landowners and tax credits for consumers. Rural America — once seen as trailing in technology and infrastructure — is now ahead of the curve when it comes to renewable energy. These states are not just producing power for themselves, but disproving myths and breaking down partisanship.

Rethinking the clean energy map

Nearly 97% of America can be considered rural land, and that land is rapidly shifting towards renewables. 

The wind turbines that power South Dakota, the solar arrays that support New Mexico, the the hydropower that fuels Oregon, these aren’t fringe efforts or programs — renewables now produce enough electricity to power nearly 70 million American households. Wind and solar have become central to how many people in America are powering their lives, their homes and their businesses.  

This shift matters, because it shows that clean energy is not bound by politics. It can (and should) serve everyone. 

If the rest of the country is paying attention, they’ll see that the renewable energy revolution isn’t just possible, it’s already well underway. And while we have to continue fighting for renewables across the nation, it’s inspiring that the very places we once assumed would be the last to change, are the same ones leading the charge.