In the fight against climate change, fossil fuels are the first to go. Few states have taken that more seriously than Vermont. In 2014, the state’s final nuclear power plant closed, rendering the state totally powered by renewable or “green” energy.
Following the planned closing of the nuclear power plant, Vermont has had to import some of their energy, but the energy imported comes from Canadian hydroelectric sources.
Hydroelectric power of course comes with built in environmental ramifications, but no air pollution and climate change causing emissions are created by hydropower.
Green Mountain Power, which is Vermont’s largest utility company, says that the power it delivers to some 75% of the state is 43% hydro, 9% wind, 6% biomass, which is woodchips and landfill gas, and 2% from distributed solar.
Topping the renewable power list are 6 other states. South Dakota has reached 87% renewable, Maine 81%, Washington 77%, Idaho 68%, and Oregon 61%.
Maine is the only one of those states that does not get a large portion of that power from hydro.
Ohio is the worst state in the US, coming in at only 2% renewable.
