CleanBeta

An Atlas of U.S. Renewable Energy Resources

Optimal Biomass on Left = Blue, Red

Load centers = Green

Biomass technology converts bio-based feedstocks like wood, agricultural waste, and yard waste through combustion into electricity. Biomass fuel is either directly combusted in a boiler, or gasified and then combusted, or turned into a liquid fuel that can be combusted. The majority of biomass resources are located east of the Continental Divide. Biomass resources are derived from the vegetation, which is sparse in the Western states. The Eastern states have much higher-quality biomass resources, which are often located near load centers in Eastern states.

Optimal Geothermal on Left = Red, Orange

Load centers = Green

Geothermal technologies tap heat from underground sources to generate electricity. The vast majority of high-quality geothermal resources are located in the western part of the United States, and especially in the Southwest. Most of the major load centers in the Eastern states are not near any high-quality geothermal resources. The Western states are more promising, as several of the major load centers are located near high-quality geothermal resources.

Optimal Wind on Left= Purple, Pink, Orange

Load centers = Green

The southern parts of the United States, and especially the southwest, have the most favorable solar energy resources, primarily as a result of their latitude and weather patterns. Solar resources generally decline in quality, moving east and north from the Southwest. The Northeast, as a whole, generally has moderate-quality solar resources. Alaska has moderate solar resources, while Hawaii has good – to very good – solar resources.

Optimal Solar on Left = Red, Orange, Yellow

Load centers = Green

The United States has two categories of wind-power resources — onshore and offshore. For better or worse, the vast majority of wind energy resource assessments have surveyed onshore wind resources. Most of the best onshore wind resource is in the Midwestern states. Many of the major load centers in the Eastern states are not located near good wind resources, while some Western load centers are located close to high-quality wind resources.