Data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) highlights a decisive shift in the U.S. power mix in the United States during 2025. Solar energy emerged as the dominant force, accounting for more than 72 percent of all new electricity generation capacity, while wind contributed another 16 percent. Together, renewable sources reshaped the country’s energy landscape, far outpacing fossil fuel additions.
Solar’s leadership extended throughout the year, marking 28 consecutive months as the top source of new generating capacity from September 2023 to December 2025. This sustained growth underscores the accelerating transition toward cleaner energy infrastructure across the United States.
Solar Drives Monthly and Annual Capacity Additions
In December 2025 alone, solar installations accounted for 83.2 percent of all new capacity additions, with 993 MW brought online across 17 projects. Key developments included large-scale projects such as the Iron Pine Solar Project in Minnesota, the Morrow Lake Solar and Storage Project in Texas, and the CPV Backbone Solar Project in Maryland. Wind contributed the remaining capacity during the month through a 200 MW installation in Illinois.
For the full year, 710 utility-scale solar units added a total of 26,556 MW, representing 72.6 percent of all new capacity deployed in 2025. This surge pushed total installed utility-scale solar capacity to 164.5 GW, giving it a 12.2 percent share of the U.S. energy mix.
Notably, solar capacity has now surpassed individual contributions from wind, nuclear, and hydropower. Wind stands at 161.1 GW, while nuclear and hydropower account for 104.39 GW and 102.09 GW respectively.
Wind Growth Outpaces Natural Gas Expansion
Wind energy also recorded strong growth, adding 5,763 MW in 2025, a 26 percent increase compared to the previous year. This expansion exceeded new capacity from natural gas, which added 4,179 MW during the same period. Wind accounted for 15.7 percent of total new capacity, reinforcing its role as the second fastest-growing renewable resource after solar.
Renewables Capture More Than 88 Percent of New Capacity
Combined, solar and wind, along with smaller contributions from hydropower and biomass, delivered 88.4 percent of all new generating capacity in 2025. In contrast, natural gas contributed just 11.4 percent, with minimal additions from oil and waste heat sources.
Renewables Expand Share of Total U.S. Capacity
Solar and wind together now represent 24.1 percent of total installed utility-scale generating capacity in the United States. When factoring in small-scale solar systems such as rooftop installations, their combined share exceeds 25 percent.
Including hydropower, biomass, and geothermal energy, renewables now account for 33 percent of total utility-scale capacity. With distributed solar included, renewables surpass one-third of the overall U.S. generation mix, highlighting their growing importance in the national energy portfolio.
Solar Set to Overtake Coal as Growth Accelerates
FERC forecasts expansion of solar capacity. Between January 2026 and December 2028, solar is expected to add 86,126 MW of new capacity, more than four times the projected additions for wind at 19,821 MW.
During the same period, natural gas capacity is projected to grow modestly by 8,154 MW, while nuclear energy will see only marginal increases. In contrast, coal capacity is expected to decline sharply by 40,828 MW, with oil also facing reductions.
If these projections materialize, solar will account for 17.6 percent of total installed U.S. capacity by early 2029, second only to natural gas. The share of all renewable energy sources could approach 39 percent, and exceed 40 percent when small-scale solar is included.
Long-Term Outlook Signals Strong Renewable Momentum
FERC also indicates that total potential additions could be significantly higher under broader scenarios. Utility-scale solar capacity could expand by as much as 240,152 MW over the next three years, while wind could add up to 64,669 MW. These figures would substantially outpace fossil fuel growth and accelerate the transition toward a cleaner energy system.
According to Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, the data confirms that solar and wind dominated electricity generation growth in 2025, with strong momentum expected to continue despite policy uncertainties.
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