Solar Power Surpasses Hydroelectric for First Time in US

America just hit a major milestone in the shift toward clean energy, and it happened faster than almost anyone predicted.

Solar power generated more electricity than hydroelectric dams in 2025, marking the first time in US history that solar has overtaken any major traditional energy source. The numbers are stunning: solar grew by 35% in just one year, adding 85 terawatt-hours of clean electricity to the grid.

To put that growth in perspective, if electricity demand had grown at its normal slow pace, solar alone would have covered the entire increase. Even with demand jumping 2.8% last year, solar and wind combined provided two-thirds of the additional power Americans needed.

The momentum isn't slowing down either. Energy analysts expect another 43 gigawatts of solar capacity to come online in 2026, nearly double what was added last year. Wind power is joining the party too, with 12 gigawatts planned including the largest wind farm ever built in the US, a massive 3.6 gigawatt project in New Mexico.

Battery storage is the secret weapon making all this possible. When solar panels produce more electricity than the grid needs during sunny afternoons, batteries save that power for evenings when families come home and turn on their lights. The US plans to add 24 gigawatts of battery capacity in 2026, mostly in California and Texas.

The trend has a few bumps. Rising electricity demand and complicated fossil fuel markets led to a 13% increase in coal use last year, which isn't great news for the climate. But the bigger picture shows coal fighting a losing battle against economics.

The Bright Side

We're approaching a turning point where renewable energy grows fast enough to meet rising electricity demand without needing more fossil fuels. Combined with hydropower, wind and solar are closing in on a quarter of all US electricity, and that share grows larger every month.

The infrastructure supporting renewables keeps getting better too. Grid operators are installing the exact systems needed for a future powered by sunshine and wind, from batteries to smart transmission lines that move power where it's needed most.

Clean energy is winning because it makes financial sense, not just environmental sense. Even with political headwinds, the economics are too powerful to stop.

The sun is rising on America's energy future, and it's bringing wind and batteries along for the ride.