Okay, I’m parked outside a Waffle House in Oklahoma, engine ticking itself cool, and I’m finally spilling about the best states for renewable energy in 2025 because my brain won’t shut up. I’ve been chasing this green rabbit hole for weeks—Prius full of empty LaCroix cans, one sandal missing since Kansas, and a sunburn that looks like I lost a fight with a tomato. Real talk: I thought I’d roll up to wind farms like some eco-warrior influencer. Nope. I’m the guy who forgot to charge overnight and panic-Googled “closest outlet mall with plugs” at 2 a.m. outside Amarillo.
Texas Blew My Doors Off (Literally)
Texas, man. I’m typing this with BBQ sauce on my elbow because I just inhaled brisket like it’s my job. West Texas wind farms? They’re everywhere. Like, you crest a hill and bam—hundreds of turbines doing that slow, hypnotic spin. I tried to take a cool drone shot. Drone flew into a blade. $400 gone. Worth it for the story.
Here’s the deal:
- Wind makes up ~28% of their grid now.
- Solar’s popping off near El Paso—fields of panels glinting like lizard scales.
- I “helped” at a community install. Dropped a panel. Apologized in Spanish I don’t speak. They laughed. I cried (inside).
Texas isn’t perfect—grid still hiccups, politicians argue like it’s reality TV—but damn, when those blades turn and the sun’s cooking the panels, you feel it. Progress. Sweaty, dusty, real.
California: Pretty, Pricey, and Kinda Smug
Rolled into Cali expecting utopia. Got $7 gas and a parking ticket. Oakland cousin let me crash on his futon that smells like old bong water and ambition. But the solar rooftops? Everywhere. Like the state’s wearing a glittery green hat.
- 52% renewables and climbing.
- Offshore wind farms finally spinning off Morro Bay—I took a boat tour, puked over the rail, still gave it 5 stars.
- Community solar lets you buy green credits. I signed up, then forgot and left my porch light on for three days. Hypocrite? Yup.
The Underdogs I Didn’t Expect
Iowa: Flat, windy, and 45% powered by turbines. Got lost in a cornfield, asked a farmer for directions, ended up with a pie and a lecture on soil health. 10/10.
New York: Offshore wind off Long Island—took the ferry, saw the rigs, felt weirdly proud. Also ate a $14 hot dog.
Colorado: Solar + hydro in the mountains. Hiked to a microgrid, twisted ankle, sat in a stream and cried a little. The water was cold. The view was worth it.
Look, I’m Still Figuring It Out
I’m not some green guru. I’m the idiot who drove 200 miles out of the way because Google Maps said “scenic route” and I thought “ooh, windmills!” Spoiler: it was a cattle ranch.
But here’s what I know: the best states for renewable energy aren’t perfect. They’re trying. Messy, human, contradictory trying. And that’s enough to keep me chasing the next turbine, the next panel, the next dumb mistake.
So tell me—which state should I ruin my sandals in next? Drop it below. I’ll probably forget to reply but I’ll read it while eating gas station taquitos at 3 a.m. somewhere in Nebraska.
Let’s keep this weird green train rolling. 🚗💨🌿
