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 95.2 (average water sub-score), ahead of New Hampshire (93.9).
| # | State | Average water sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 95.2 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 93.9 |
| 3 | Vermont | 93.7 |
| 4 | Michigan | 93.5 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 93.4 |
| 6 | Alaska | 93.3 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 91.2 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 91.1 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 90.8 |
| 10 | Alabama | 90.6 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 90.3 |
| 12 | New York | 90.2 |
| 13 | Indiana | 90.0 |
| 14 | Ohio | 89.9 |
| 15 | Mississippi | 89.5 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 89.4 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 89.0 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 88.5 |
| 19 | Illinois | 88.3 |
| 20 | Iowa | 88.0 |
| 21 | Missouri | 87.9 |
| 22 | Virginia | 87.8 |
| 23 | Louisiana | 87.4 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 86.9 |
| 25 | New Jersey | 85.3 |
| 26 | Maryland | 85.1 |
| 27 | Delaware | 85.0 |
| 28 | North Carolina | 84.8 |
| 29 | South Carolina | 84.6 |
| 30 | Hawaii | 84.1 |
| 31 | Arkansas | 84.0 |
| 32 | Georgia | 81.5 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | 81.0 |
| 34 | North Dakota | 79.5 |
| 35 | Florida | 77.8 |
| 36 | South Dakota | 76.5 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | 66.7 |
| 38 | Washington | 65.5 |
| 39 | Oregon | 62.9 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 62.3 |
| 41 | Montana | 57.5 |
| 42 | Kansas | 57.1 |
| 43 | Texas | 51.8 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 50.2 |
| 45 | Idaho | 48.3 |
| 46 | Colorado | 41.4 |
| 47 | Utah | 31.4 |
| 48 | California | 31.3 |
| 49 | New Mexico | 28.2 |
| 50 | Arizona | 21.2 |
| 51 | Nevada | 15.5 |
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 95.2 (average water sub-score), followed by New Hampshire (93.9).
- 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.