The United States is undergoing a major shift in the way it generates and consumes electricity. In the midst of such visible changes, strong metrics are enlightening—even if they are, in some ways, stating the obvious.


A recent ranking published by Portland, Ore.-based Clean Edge gives the new energy transformation some quantifiable dimensions. The U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index, released in early June, tracks and ranks the clean-tech activities of all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas in the United States. It ranks everything from electric vehicles and renewables adoption to patent and investment activity.


The index confirms that the United States is experiencing a significant shift in the energy sector. Last year, for example, utility-scale wind and solar power combined for nearly half (47 percent) of new U.S. generation capacity.


Breaking down the trend at the state level, 11 states generate more than 10 percent of their electricity from nonhydro renewable-energy sources. Three of these states (Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota) exceed the 20 percent mark. If hydropower is included in the measurement, Idaho, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington exceed 70 percent renewables generation. Also of note, last year, California became the first state in the nation to garner 5 percent of its electricity from utility-scale solar.


The index includes more than 100 indicators comprising approximately 17,000 data cells. California leads all states in the index by a wide margin for the sixth consecutive year. The Golden State, No. 1 in the Technology and Capital categories and No. 2 in Policy, improved its overall lead over second-place Massachusetts. California also boasted the top spots for municipalities, with San Francisco and San Jose taking the No. 1 and 2 rankings, respectively.