States with Renewable Portfolio Standards
Select a state on the map below for a link to an explanation of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for that state published by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE).
- Map Linking to Descriptions of State Renewable Portfolio Standards
- Chart Summarizing State Renewable Portfolio Standards
A renewable portfolio standard is a state policy that requires electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy resources by a certain date. Currently there are 24 states plus the District of Columbia that have RPS policies in place. Together these states account for more than half of the electricity sales in the United States.
Five other states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Vermont, have nonbinding goals for adoption of renewable energy instead of an RPS.
May 2009
Text version of states with Renewable Portfolio Standards
Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Hawaii Illinois Iowa Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington WisconsinSummary of State Renewable Portfolio Standards
The following table gives a rough summary of state renewable portfolio standards and links to organizations that are administering these standards or explain the details involved. Percentages refer to a portion of electricity sales and megawatts (MW) to absolute capacity requirements. Most of these standards phase in over years, and the date refers to when the full requirement takes effect.
*Five states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Vermont, have set voluntary goals for adopting renewable energy instead of portfolio standards with binding targets.