Texas produces more energy than any other U.S. state, and it’s not particularly close. Between its massive oil fields, natural gas operations, wind farms, and refineries, Texas dominates nearly every energy category. But the full picture of American energy production involves a handful of other states that lead in specific sectors, from Wyoming’s coal mines to Washington’s hydroelectric dams.
Texas Leads in Oil by a Wide Margin
Texas produced roughly 5.75 million barrels of crude oil per day in early 2025, according to the Energy Information Administration. That’s more than double the output of any other state and would rank Texas among the top oil-producing countries in the world if it were independent. The Permian Basin, which stretches across West Texas and into southeastern New Mexico, is the engine behind this production.
New Mexico has surged into a clear second place, producing about 2.24 million barrels per day. That’s a dramatic increase from just 1 million barrels per day in 2020, driven by expanded drilling in the New Mexico side of the Permian Basin. North Dakota ranks third at around 1.15 million barrels per day, largely from the Bakken formation. Colorado and Alaska round out the top five, each producing in the range of 420,000 to 470,000 barrels per day.
Natural Gas Follows a Similar Pattern
Texas also leads the country in natural gas production, followed by Pennsylvania. The Marcellus Shale, which underlies much of Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia and Ohio, transformed the Northeast into a natural gas powerhouse over the past 15 years. Pennsylvania now produces more natural gas than many entire countries. Louisiana, Oklahoma, and West Virginia fill out the remaining top spots, each contributing significant volumes from their respective shale formations.
Wyoming Dominates Coal Production
Wyoming produced about 190,700 thousand short tons of coal in 2024, making it the nation’s largest coal producer by far. The Powder River Basin in northeastern Wyoming contains enormous surface-minable coal deposits that are cheaper to extract than underground coal in Appalachia. West Virginia came in second with roughly 79,800 thousand short tons, and Pennsylvania placed third at about 40,700 thousand short tons. Together, these three states account for the majority of U.S. coal output, though national coal production has been declining steadily as power plants switch to natural gas and renewables.
Wind and Solar Power Are Shifting the Map
Texas leads the nation in wind energy generation, with more installed wind capacity than any other state. The flat, windy terrain of West Texas and the Panhandle hosts thousands of turbines. Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas also generate substantial portions of their electricity from wind, with Iowa frequently getting more than half its electricity from wind turbines alone.
For solar, California has historically led in both utility-scale solar farms and rooftop installations. Texas has been adding solar capacity rapidly and is closing the gap. Other strong solar states include Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona, each benefiting from high sun exposure and favorable policies for solar development.
Nuclear Power’s Biggest Players
Illinois generates more nuclear electricity than any other state, with its fleet of reactors providing the majority of the state’s power. Pennsylvania and South Carolina also rank near the top for nuclear generation. Nuclear plants produce large amounts of electricity from relatively few facilities, so states with multiple operating reactors can generate enormous output even without the geographic footprint of wind or solar farms.
Hydropower Concentrates in the Pacific Northwest
Washington state is the country’s leading hydroelectric producer. In 2017, hydroelectricity supplied 72% of Washington’s total electricity generation, a share driven by massive dams along the Columbia River, including Grand Coulee Dam. Oregon also relies heavily on hydropower from the Columbia River system. California, New York, and Alabama contribute significant hydroelectric generation as well, though their shares of total state electricity are much smaller than Washington’s.
Total Energy Production Rankings
When you combine all energy sources, the ranking reflects which states have the broadest and deepest resource bases. Texas sits firmly at the top, producing more crude oil, natural gas, and wind energy than any other state. Wyoming ranks high because of its coal output, which represents a massive amount of energy even as coal’s role shrinks. Pennsylvania’s combination of natural gas, coal, and nuclear power makes it one of the largest total energy producers in the country. New Mexico’s rapid growth in oil production has pushed it up the rankings significantly in recent years.
North Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and West Virginia each earn their spots through fossil fuel production, while states like California and Washington contribute heavily through a mix of renewables and, in California’s case, oil. The energy map of the United States is shaped by geology and geography: where the shale formations sit, where the wind blows hardest, where rivers drop enough elevation to spin turbines, and where decades-old nuclear plants keep running.