Jake Slobe | May 15, 2017
This On the Radio Segment discusses the recently released list of states in the U.S. that lead in the use of clean energy.
Transcript: The Union of Concerned Scientists recently published its list of top ten states demonstrating “clean energy momentum,” and Iowa led the Midwest.
This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.
States were ranked according to twelve metrics that were organized into three broad categories: technical progress; direct, visible effects on our daily lives; and policies to build momentum for the future. California was at the top of the list as it was a top performer in eight of the twelve metrics. Other leading states included Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Oregon, Maine, Washington, and New York.
Iowa rounded out the top ten list and was ranked first among Midwestern states. The Hawkeye state was the first to generate more than 30 percent of its energy from wind and is expected to source more than 40 percent of its total energy from wind turbines by 2020.
The publication pointed out that despite recent rollbacks of Obama-era climate policy, great strides have been made in renewable energy development. It notes that enough solar panels were added in 2016 to power two million houses.
To read the full report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, visit iowenvironmentalfocus.org.
From the UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, I’m Betsy Stone.
