New TWW Report Reveals Rural, Conservative States Lead Nation in Power Grid Reliability with "All-of-the-Above" Energy Strategy
Study shows red states are 2 to 7 times more reliable than national average, with diverse generation stacks ranging from wind dominated South Dakota to natural gas and nuclear heavy Arizona
Denver, CO – January 21, 2026 – The Western Way today released a groundbreaking report showing that rural and conservative-leaning states have some of the most reliable power grids in the United States – and they're achieving this success not by choosing a single energy source, but by embracing a diverse portfolio of generation technologies.
The report, titled "Red State Reliable: How Rural America Is Keeping the Power Grid Stable with a Wide Range of Energy Sources," analyzed 10 states – Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming – and found their grids to be 2 to 7 times more reliable than the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI).
"Sometimes the debate over U.S. energy policy feels more like a shouting match, instead of a factual discussion about how to meet the nation's rapidly growing needs," said Greg Brophy, Rural Energy Network Director of The Western Way. "But outside the competing echo chambers on the left and the right, a quiet success story is unfolding in America's rural – and yes, more politically conservative – communities."
The report reveals there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to grid reliability. South Dakota, the nation's second most reliable state, generates 58% of its power from wind, while Arizona, ranked third, relies primarily on natural gas (45%) and nuclear (27%). Despite vastly different generation stacks, both states maintain power availability above 99.98% of the time.
"It turns out that keeping the lights on isn't about picking a side. It's about picking all the energy sources that can deliver affordable and reliable electricity based on local conditions," Brophy wrote.
The report comes as the demand for energy is growing at unprecedented levels. An analysis from the U.S. Department of Energy acknowledges that meeting projected 2030 electricity demand will require 336 gigawatts of new capacity – including significant contributions from wind, solar and battery storage alongside baseload generation.
"The lesson from states like South Dakota and Arizona is that energy decisions cannot be made based on broad-brush national arguments," Brophy noted. "As we face a future of higher demand, no energy source should be sidelined because of rhetoric that doesn't reflect conditions on the ground. A stable power grid requires a mix of energy sources working together as efficiently as possible – in other words, 'all of the above.'"
Key findings from the report include:
The rural states reviewed achieve 99.95% to 99.99% power reliability, compared to the U.S. average of 99.88%
States with more renewables like wind and solar can have the same or better reliability than states with more baseload sources like coal and nuclear
Wind and solar have been successfully integrated into generation stacks without sacrificing reliability, thanks to complementary sources like natural gas and battery storage
Pursuing a wider range of energy sources enhances reliability by giving grid operators more generation assets to keep the lights on
Power generation projects should be evaluated based on unique state and local conditions rather than national political debates
"If we truly care about keeping the lights on, let's stop fighting over the "right" kind of energy and embrace the idea of building a grid that uses it all," Brophy concluded.
The full report is available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5734cf71b6aa60fb98e91bf2/t/696ecf139a34ff0e189e5708/1768869651471/TWW_Red+State+Reliable_FINAL+1-19-26.pdf