How self-sufficient in energy generation could states be if they
relied only on their own renewable resources? In November 2008,
ILSR began to address this question in the first edition of
Energy Self-Reliant States. That report included a limited set
of resources – on-shore wind and rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV)
– and also examined the potential for biomass-derived
transportation fuels. This updated edition of Energy Self-
Reliant States narrows the focus to electricity, but includes
virtually all renewable resources (on shore and off shore wind,
micro hydro, combined heat and power, geothermal, rooftop PV).
We also discuss the potential gains from improving energy
efficiency and estimate the per kWh costs for each state to
become energy independent. The data in this report suggest that
every state could generate a significant percentage of its
electricity with homegrown renewable energy. At least three-
fifths of the fifty states could meet all their internal
electricity needs from renewable energy generate