With a little development elbow grease, we could be in pretty good shape for the day the energy apocalypse comes and states have to split into small self-reliant compounds. The majority of U.S. states — 31 of the 50 — could be completely self-sufficient with locally-produced renewable energy, according to a report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. In fact, most states could produce many times more energy than they need. They've got South Dakota down as having the potential to produce 32,431 percent of its energy usage! (There's also a bigger map and an interactive map that is actually not all that interactive as far as I can tell.)
The report considers on- and offshore wind, hydro, combined heat and power, geothermal, and roof solar photovoltaic — but not ground solar PV arrays, which would probaby put Arizona at least over the 100 percent line.
