Canada's Renewable Edge: A Map Reveals the Energy Divide Between North America

The energy landscape in the United States and Canada is vastly different, according to a recent map that highlights the dominant power source in each state and province. The data, which comes from the Canadian Centre for Energy Information and Ember, shows that renewables generate 67% of Canada's electricity, compared to just 22% in the U.S.

Natural gas is the top power source in most U.S. states, driven by the shale boom over the past 15 years. As coal plants retired, natural gas stepped in as a flexible replacement, but it remains a major source of emissions. Coal still leads in several states, including West Virginia, Wyoming, and Kentucky, where coal mining and production have historically been prominent.

In Canada, hydroelectricity dominates much of the map, with provinces such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador generating most of their electricity from large-scale hydro projects. This is due to the country's geography, which allows for stable, low-carbon power at scale. However, fossil fuels still play a role in some regions, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, which rely primarily on natural gas, while Nova Scotia remains coal-dependent.

Nuclear power leads in several key U.S. states, including Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and South Carolina, as well as Ontario and New Brunswick in Canada. Wind also stands out across the U.S. Midwest, with states like Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and New Mexico generating more electricity from wind than any other source.