US Breaks Clean Energy Record With 89 Gigawatts This Year

The United States is about to shatter its clean energy record, installing 89 gigawatts of renewable power in 2026 and setting up to beat that mark again next year.

Solar is leading the charge, with developers installing 48.9 gigawatts this year alone. That's enough to power millions of homes, even as new tariffs and tax changes trimmed long-term projections slightly.

The growth isn't slowing down. BloombergNEF forecasts show onshore wind additions jumping 15% through 2036 to nearly 100 gigawatts total, while battery storage projections soared 35% to 383 gigawatts over the same period.

Data centers are becoming the unexpected hero of this story. With AI and cloud computing exploding, companies like Google and Meta signed contracts for more than 15 gigawatts of clean power just through August, accounting for three quarters of all corporate renewable deals.

By 2035, data centers could consume 120 gigawatts of electricity, roughly five times today's usage, with nearly half linked to artificial intelligence. That massive appetite is accelerating the renewable buildout faster than most experts predicted just months ago.

Texas and the Southwest are becoming America's renewable powerhouse. These regions are attracting the lion's share of new solar and wind projects, transforming the energy landscape across the country.

Battery storage is getting a major boost from federal incentives that remain strong even as some other clean energy supports wind down. This technology solves one of renewable energy's biggest challenges: storing power when the sun isn't shining and wind isn't blowing.

The Bright Side

While data centers are also driving some natural gas expansion, the overall picture tilts heavily toward clean energy. Companies are choosing renewables first, with gas serving as backup rather than the primary solution.

Nuclear power is finding new life too, with 13.7 gigawatts expected by 2036 through restarting closed plants and boosting output at existing facilities. The combination of solar, wind, batteries, and nuclear creates a more resilient and cleaner grid.

The momentum behind clean energy keeps building despite higher interest rates and equipment uncertainties. Developers aren't just meeting targets; they're exceeding them year after year, proving that America's renewable revolution has staying power.