Does North Dakota get 36% of its available energy from wind?
Yes.
Wind energy accounts for at least 36% of North Dakota’s electricity generation.
As of 2023, wind power made up about 36% of the state’s net electricity generation and was the second-largest source of electricity after coal. North Dakota ranks among the top states in the nation for wind power generation per capita, with consistent year-over-year performance in this category.
Recent EIA data from 2025 shows that renewables including wind continue to account for more than 40% of the state’s electricity, with wind making up the bulk of that share. The data shows that wind remains a major contributor to North Dakota’s energy mix and is a key component of the state’s renewable energy profile.
These figures reflect utility-scale electricity generation and do not include small-scale solar or residential wind systems, which are minimal in the state.
North Dakota’s percentage of wind-generated electricity is more than three times the national average.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: North Dakota State Profile and Energy Estimates
- EBSCO Research Starters: North Dakota and Wind Energy Production
- U.S. EIA Today in Energy (March 2025): Renewables provide 47% of North Dakota electricity
- U.S. EIA Electricity Generation Data (2023): Electricity Data Browser – North Dakota
U.S. Energy Information Administration: How much U.S. electricity is generated from renewable energy?
Support independent journalism that puts North Dakota’s communities first. Your donation to the North Dakota News Cooperative helps us deliver in-depth reporting on the issues that matter most.
Have a question we can answer?
We’ll try to help you make sense of the claims you’ve encountered online. Once you’ve submitted a tip, it will be reviewed to determine if your question is answerable.
