State-level electricity and emissions footprints of U.S. irrigation

Abstract

This study quantifies the state-level electricity footprint and associated carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO₂e) emissions footprint of U.S. agricultural irrigation, an essential but under-examined component of the energy-water-food nexus. Using open data, we estimate that in 2023, on-farm irrigation in the United States consumed approximately 26.2 TWh of electricity, cost $2.5 billion, and produced 8.2 million metric tons of CO₂e. These figures account for 0.68% of the national electricity consumption and 0.57% of national CO₂e emissions, with notable state-level variations. This analysis, the first to use the most recent data for state-level results only available every few years, highlights the potential for targeted energy management and emissions reduction strategies in U.S. agricultural irrigation.