States with the Lowest Water Stress for Cooling
States ranked by the average water sub-score (higher = lower water stress) — a proxy for cooling-water availability across candidate sites. Maine leads with 95.7 (average water sub-score), ahead of Alaska (94.4).
| # | State | Average water sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 95.7 |
| 2 | Alaska | 94.4 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 93.8 |
| 4 | Vermont | 93.8 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 93.5 |
| 6 | Michigan | 93.3 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 91.5 |
| 8 | Alabama | 91.4 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 91.4 |
| 10 | West Virginia | 90.9 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 89.9 |
| 12 | Indiana | 89.8 |
| 13 | Mississippi | 89.7 |
| 14 | New York | 89.7 |
| 15 | Ohio | 89.6 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 89.4 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 89.1 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 87.8 |
| 19 | Missouri | 87.7 |
| 20 | Virginia | 87.6 |
| 21 | Illinois | 87.4 |
| 22 | Iowa | 87.3 |
| 23 | Louisiana | 86.6 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 86.0 |
| 25 | Hawaii | 84.1 |
| 26 | New Jersey | 84.0 |
| 27 | Delaware | 83.7 |
| 28 | Maryland | 83.7 |
| 29 | Arkansas | 83.3 |
| 30 | North Carolina | 83.2 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 82.9 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | 80.3 |
| 33 | North Dakota | 79.8 |
| 34 | Georgia | 79.5 |
| 35 | South Dakota | 76.0 |
| 36 | Florida | 75.9 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | 64.1 |
| 38 | Washington | 63.7 |
| 39 | Oregon | 59.9 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 59.6 |
| 41 | Montana | 56.1 |
| 42 | Kansas | 53.9 |
| 43 | Wyoming | 48.4 |
| 44 | Texas | 45.8 |
| 45 | Idaho | 44.2 |
| 46 | Colorado | 37.3 |
| 47 | California | 27.2 |
| 48 | Utah | 25.2 |
| 49 | New Mexico | 22.6 |
| 50 | Arizona | 17.2 |
| 51 | Nevada | 11.4 |
Methodology
This ranking is computed directly from the GridCensus dataset of 164,098 scored candidate sites. Values are screening estimates derived from public data sources — not site-specific assessments. Catalogued capacity is a theoretical aggregate, not deliverable power. Full methodology →
Ranking FAQ
- What state ranks #1 for "states with the lowest water stress for cooling"?
- Maine ranks first with 95.7 (average water sub-score), followed by Alaska (94.4).
- How is this ranking calculated?
- States ranked by the average water sub-score (higher = lower water stress) — a proxy for cooling-water availability across candidate sites. Figures are screening estimates derived from public data sources and refresh monthly.
Related rankings
Dataset updated . Screening estimates derived from public data sources.
Go deeper than the public screen
This page shows a public slice of the GridCensus dataset. Pro and Enterprise plans unlock the full 164,098-site catalog, raw sub-scores, parcel ownership, interconnection-queue detail, saved searches, and programmatic API access.