Have you ever wondered whether the rising electricity bills are truly caused by renewable energy, as some voices claim? Former President Donald Trump once publicly stated that states relying on wind and solar power would face "record increases" in electricity prices, even calling renewables "the big scam of the century." But is this really the case?
Let's cut through the misinformation and examine the facts with data.
Renewables Are Not the Culprit Behind Rising Electricity Prices
A comprehensive chart covering all 50 U.S. states clearly shows that the share of renewable energy generation does not correlate positively with residential electricity prices. In fact, there's a slight negative correlation. In other words, states that actively embrace wind and solar power haven't seen their electricity prices soar—instead, many have experienced price declines.
Take North Dakota as an example. Wind power accounts for 36% of its total electricity supply, ranking among the highest in the nation. Yet, the state's average electricity price in May 2025 dropped to approximately $0.08 per kilowatt-hour from $0.09 in 2019. Similarly, Iowa, which has significantly expanded its wind energy capacity, has maintained stable electricity prices with even slight decreases during the same period.
Research from Energy Innovation further supports this finding. Since 2010, states with the fastest growth in wind and solar power—including Iowa, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma—have seen electricity price increases below the inflation rate.
The Special Cases of High-Price States
Of course, we must acknowledge that California and Maine stand out with electricity price increases exceeding 60%. However, these spikes are not caused by renewable energy adoption but rather by unique structural and geographical factors.
California's high electricity costs are primarily driven by frequent wildfires, which have dramatically increased grid maintenance and insurance expenses. Maine, on the other hand, faces price volatility due to fluctuating natural gas prices and the isolated nature of its regional grid.
The Real Drivers Behind Rising Electricity Prices
So what's actually causing the overall increase in U.S. electricity prices? The answer is multifaceted, with several key factors at play:
• Grid infrastructure costs: Aging power grids require costly upgrades, and these expenses ultimately get passed on to consumers.
• Extreme weather events: More frequent severe weather damages power infrastructure, increasing maintenance and repair costs.
• Natural gas price volatility: As a major fuel source for electricity generation, natural gas price fluctuations directly impact electricity rates.
• Surging demand from new technologies: The rapid growth of data centers, electric vehicles, and other emerging industries has significantly increased electricity demand.
Regions at the edge of energy networks or with isolated grids—such as California, Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, and New England—typically face higher electricity prices due to elevated transmission and distribution costs. These price differences have no direct connection to local renewable energy adoption rates.
The Numbers: How Much Have Prices Actually Risen?
Over the past six years, average U.S. electricity prices have increased by approximately 27%, rising from 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in May 2019 to over 13.2 cents in 2025. The most significant jump occurred in 2022, with prices increasing 5.5% year-over-year in the most recent period—far exceeding the overall inflation rate of 2.7%.
Clean Energy: The Solution to Energy Challenges
Despite the previous administration's restrictive policies toward renewables, clean energy continues to dominate new power generation capacity in the U.S. According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. grid will add 64 gigawatts of new capacity in 2025, with solar accounting for more than half, energy storage contributing 18 gigawatts, and wind adding another 8 gigawatts.
Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association (ACP), succinctly noted that attempts to blame others for rising electricity prices reveal policy failures. Impeding renewable energy development ultimately harms consumers, especially as electricity demand continues to grow.
Conclusion: Embracing Clean Energy for a Sustainable Future
The evidence is clear: historical data and current trends show that future electricity price increases in the U.S. should not be attributed to renewable energy development. On the contrary, accelerating clean energy deployment represents the most effective path to addressing both energy security and cost challenges. The transition to sustainable energy isn't just environmentally responsible—it's economically sound.