🌐 Wind, Water & Solar: 100% Clean Renewable Energy by 2035

Stanford professor Mark Jacobson wasn’t just dreaming of a world powered by 100% renewable energy back in 2009—he was doing the math and architecting the plan.

In an article for Scientific American, Jacobson presented it: wind, water, and solar could do more than keep the lights on — they could power the planet.

A momentous chain reaction ensued. Jacobson teamed up with actor-turned-eco-hero Mark Ruffalo to co-found The Solutions Project with a mission to transition the world to 100% renewables by 2035.

Jacobson went on the David Letterman Show and spoke at the UN alongside Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

As his vision took root, states and cities began making 100% renewable pledges.

By 2019, Jacobson's idea had reached Capitol Hill when AOC and Senator Markey introduced the Green New Deal resolution, calling for a transition to 100% renewable energy.

Jacobson’s message? We can pull it off, it’ll save us trillions, and spare millions of lives.

Plus, if you’re lucky enough to live in just about any state that’s ahead of the curve, you’re already paying some of the lowest energy bills in the country.

Of the 11 states generating enough renewable energy to meet 50% of their demand, 10 are ranked in the Top 20 for lowest energy prices. The exception is Hawaii, which has historically relied on imported energy but is swiftly transitioning to renewables.

Six of these states are in the Top 10 for energy affordability:

• North Dakota (1st)

• Wyoming (5th)

• Washington (6th)

• Oklahoma (7th)

• Montana (8th)

• South Dakota (9th)

What was once deemed impossible is now both probable and desirable. Renewable energy is powering a secure, healthy, and economically competitive future for communities across the nation.

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Number of the Week: 100.6%

From June 2023 to June 2024, South Dakota generated over 100% of its annual electricity demand from wind (74.8%), water (24.7%), and solar (1.3%) sources, the first state to achieve this feat while still boasting the 9th lowest energy prices in the nation.

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State Spotlight - Hawaii

Hawaii’s geographic isolation has long meant a reliance on imported energy, with 80% of its energy arriving by oil tankers from distant locations. This dependence has resulted in the highest energy costs among U.S. states. However, this challenge has also been a powerful catalyst for Hawaii’s swift transition toward locally generated renewable energy.

Hawaii offers a compelling case study to glimpse how the low-carbon future will unfold. Here’s what’s Supercool.

1. Rooftop Solar:  37% of Hawaii’s homes are equipped with rooftop solar panels, ranking first in the nation. This local, resilient distributed energy source accounts for 44% of the state’s renewable energy mix.

2. Utility Scale Solar: Waikoloa, a massive solar-plus-battery power plant on Hawaii’s Big Island that came online in 2023, supplies over 7% of the island’s electricity. This innovative facility has already lowered residents' energy bills by $5 per month.

EV Adoption:12% of all new vehicles are battery-powered, ranking 3rd behind Californa and Washington. High gas prices provide motivation, and short trips (it’s an island, after all) alleviate range anxiety.