US Solar Power to Surge 46% Despite Policy Headwinds

While political winds shift in Washington, America's clean energy boom keeps rolling forward with a momentum that's proving stronger than any single administration.

The US Energy Information Administration just released forecasts showing solar power generation will soar 46% over the next two years, while wind energy climbs 12%. This growth continues despite a sharp reversal in federal support and aggressive opposition from the current White House.

Here's what makes this remarkable: electricity demand is surging thanks to AI data centers and other tech growth. Yet coal power is expected to drop nearly 10% while natural gas barely budges upward. Renewables are filling the gap.

The numbers tell a simple story. Solar and wind now make up 18% of US electricity generation, up from just 11% five years ago. That share keeps climbing not because of mandates, but because the math works.

Solar farms cost $50 to $53 per megawatt hour to operate in North America. Onshore wind runs about $76. Compare that to $115 for natural gas plants and $194 for coal, according to energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

Speed matters too. A solar farm can go from ground breaking to powering homes in under a year. Natural gas plants typically take several years, with some turbine manufacturers currently backed up for much longer.

The old knock against renewables was their unreliability when the sun sets or wind stops. Battery storage is changing that equation fast. The US added 19 gigawatts of utility scale batteries last year alone, bringing the total to 45 gigawatts nationwide.

Another 22 gigawatts of battery capacity will come online this year. That stored power now meets a significant chunk of electricity demand even during nighttime hours, keeping solar energy useful around the clock.

The Bright Side

Not everything is smooth sailing for American clean energy. Project cancellations have increased following cuts to tax credits that made marginal projects financially viable. Tariffs on equipment and restrictions on federal land development have created new hurdles.

But the core trend remains intact. When clean energy pencils out cheaper than fossil fuels and deploys faster than alternatives, economics drive adoption regardless of political climate. Companies building data centers and factories need power quickly and affordably.

State level policies continue supporting renewables in many regions, creating a patchwork of incentives even as federal support wanes. Private investment keeps flowing toward technologies with improving cost curves and proven reliability.

The transition isn't happening because regulators demanded it or activists wished for it. It's happening because renewable power became the practical choice for meeting America's growing energy needs affordably and quickly.

Clean energy proved it could compete, and now it's proving it can thrive even when the political welcome mat gets pulled away.