U.S. Adds 26.6 GW Solar in 2025, Renewables Lead
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- FERC reported that solar and wind together supplied nearly 90 % of all new utility‑scale generating capacity added to the U.S. grid through December 2025.
- Solar industry installed 26,556 MW of new utility‑scale capacity in 2025, representing the bulk of the 36,551 MW total new builds for the year.
- Solar capacity now makes up 12.16 % of the total available installed generating capacity in the United States, up from previous years.
- Natural gas remains the largest fuel share at 42.17 % of total capacity, but its share is being eroded by rapid solar and wind growth.
- Projected pipeline shows “high‑probability” additions through December 2028 of 86.5 GW solar and 19.9 GW wind, while coal is slated to retire 40.8 GW with zero new additions.
- December‑2025 projects included Iron Pine Solar Power LLC’s 325 MW Minnesota plant, Morrow Lake Solar LLC’s 201.1 MW Texas solar‑storage project, and Top Hat Wind Energy LLC’s 200 MW Illinois wind center.
Why it matters: Utilities and clean‑energy investors capture a 26.6 GW surge, while fossil‑fuel generators lose market share as coal retirements and natural‑gas dominance recede, pushing the U.S. grid toward a lower‑carbon mix; the near‑90 % renewable share of new capacity underscores a market shift that will shape policy and financing.
