Clean Energy Surges Despite Policy Headwinds in 2025

Clean energy just proved it's too big to slow down, even when the federal government throws up roadblocks.

In 2025, nearly every new power source added to America's grid came from solar, wind, and batteries. September saw solar account for 98% of new capacity alone. The U.S. Energy Administration projects that all net new generating capacity in 2026 will come from renewable energy and batteries.

This growth happened despite a year of unprecedented policy challenges. The Trump administration paused permitting for wind projects, ended the Solar for All program that helped low-income families access clean energy, and phased out longstanding tax credits for clean energy construction. A massive Nevada solar project that could have powered 2 million homes got cancelled after the Department of Interior effectively froze permits for renewable projects on public land.

The attacks kept coming. Revolution Wind, an offshore wind farm off Rhode Island's coast, faced three separate stop-work orders from federal officials. Each time, developers fought back in court and won preliminary injunctions to keep building.

The policy uncertainty hurt. Smaller clean energy companies went under when financing dried up. As many as 117 gigawatts of solar and battery storage projects now risk delays because federal permitting became so difficult. That's enough clean power to supply nearly 100 million homes.

But here's the surprise. Many clean energy developers report their project pipelines are completely full.

The Bright Side

Data centers driving artificial intelligence need massive amounts of reliable power, and they're choosing clean energy to get it. "As much as we can deliver, they're buying it," says Jim Spencer, president and CEO of Exus Renewables North America.

The demand is so strong that Exus just closed a $400 million credit facility to build new solar and wind projects. Banks were so confident they added $150 million more than the company initially requested.

States and developers who challenged federal overreach in court kept winning, creating space for projects to move forward. The renewable energy industry showed it could adapt and grow even when policy support disappeared.

Clean energy's momentum comes from economics and demand now, not just government incentives. Companies and consumers want it, banks will fund it, and the grid keeps adding it.

The clean energy transition isn't slowing down because one force turned out to be stronger than policy: the market itself.