{"id":81950,"date":"2025-04-21T18:15:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T22:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=81950"},"modified":"2025-04-21T18:15:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T22:15:25","slug":"ferc-solar-wind-jan-feb-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=81950","title":{"rendered":"FERC: Solar + wind made up 98% of new US power generating capacity in Jan-Feb 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\"FERC
\n\t\t\t\tPhoto: Vista Sand Solar Farm\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Solar and wind accounted for almost 98% of new US electrical generating capacity added in the first two months of 2025, according to new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign.<\/p>\n

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In FERC\u2019s latest monthly \u201cEnergy Infrastructure Update\u201d report<\/a> (with data through February 28, 2025), FERC says 39 \u201cunits\u201d of solar totaling 1,514 megawatts (MW) were placed into service in February, along with two units of wind (266 MW). They accounted for 95.3% of all new generating capacity added during the month. Natural gas provided the balance (87 MW).<\/p>\n

For both January and February, renewables (6,309 MW) were 97.6% of new capacity, while natural gas (147 MW) provided just 2.3%, with another 0.2% coming from oil (11 MW).<\/p>\n

Solar dominated February generating capacity<\/h2>\n

Solar accounted for 81.1% of all new generating capacity placed into service in February. It was 73.3% of new capacity added during the first two months of 2025.<\/p>\n

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Recent solar additions include the 237.3 MW Fence Post Solar in Texas, the 150-MW Northern Orchard Solar in California, and the 135-MW Prairie Ronde Solar Project in Louisiana.<\/p>\n

Solar has now been the largest source of new generating capacity added each month for 18 consecutive months, since September 2023.<\/p>\n

Solar + wind now almost 25% of US utility-scale generating capacity<\/h2>\n

New wind accounted for most of the balance (14.3%) of capacity additions in February. New wind capacity (1,568 MW) added in January and February combined was 70% more year-over-year (922 MW).<\/p>\n

The new wind farms that came online in February were the 140.3-MW Pioneer DJ Wind in Texas and the 126-MW Downeast Wind in Maine.<\/p>\n

The installed capacities of solar (10.7%) and wind (11.8%) are now each more than a tenth of the US total. Together, they\u2019re almost one-fourth (22.5%) of the US\u2019s total available installed utility-scale generating capacity.<\/p>\n

Further, approximately 30% of US solar capacity is in the form of small-scale (e.g., rooftop) systems that aren\u2019t reflected<\/a> in FERC\u2019s data. Including that additional solar capacity would bring the share provided by solar and wind to more than 25% of the US total.<\/p>\n

With the inclusion of hydropower (7.6%), biomass (1.1%), and geothermal (0.3%), renewables currently claim a 31.5% share of total US utility-scale generating capacity. If small-scale solar capacity is included, renewables are now about one-third of total US generating capacity.<\/p>\n

For perspective, a year ago<\/a>, the mix of utility-scale renewables accounted for 29.3% of total installed generating capacity. Five years ago<\/a>, it was 22.6%. Ten years ago<\/a>, it was 16.9% (with more than half provided by hydropower). Thus, over the past decade, renewables\u2019 share of US generating capacity has nearly doubled.<\/p>\n

FERC\u2019s 3-year solar + wind addition forecast<\/h2>\n

FERC reports that net \u201chigh probability\u201d additions of solar between March 2025 and February 2028 total 89,497 MW \u2013 an amount almost four times the forecast net \u201chigh probability\u201d additions for wind (22,890 MW), the second fastest growing resource. FERC also foresees net growth for hydropower (1,323 MW) and geothermal (92 MW) but a decrease of 130 MW in biomass capacity.<\/p>\n

The net new \u201chigh probability\u201d capacity additions by all renewable energy sources would total 113,672 MW. There is no new nuclear capacity in FERC\u2019s three-year forecast. <\/p>\n

Despite Trump\u2019s big fossil fuel push, FERC is projecting that coal and oil will contract by 24,939 MW and 2,104 MW, respectively. Natural gas capacity would expand by 1,583 MW.<\/p>\n

Thus, adjusting for the different capacity factors of gas (59.7%), wind (34.3%), and utility-scale solar (23.4%), electricity generated by the projected new solar capacity to be added in the coming three years should be at least 20 times greater than that produced by the new natural gas capacity, while wind\u2019s new electrical output would eclipse gas by eight-fold.<\/p>\n

If FERC\u2019s current \u201chigh probability\u201d additions materialize, by March 1, 2028, solar will account for nearly one-sixth (16.3%) of US installed utility-scale generating capacity. Wind would provide an additional one-eighth (12.7%) of the total. So each would be greater than coal (12.4%) and substantially more than either nuclear power (7.3%) or hydropower (7.2%).<\/p>\n

Assuming current growth rates continue, the installed capacity of utility-scale solar is likely to surpass coal and wind within the next two years, placing solar in second place for installed generating capacity behind natural gas.<\/p>\n

Renewables still on track to exceed natural gas in 3 years<\/h2>\n

The mix of all utility-scale (ie, >1 MW) renewables is now adding about two percentage points annually to its share of generating capacity. At that pace, by March 1, 2028, renewables would account for 37.6% of total available installed utility-scale generating capacity \u2013 nipping on the heels of natural gas (40.2%) \u2013 with solar and wind constituting more than three-quarters of the installed renewable energy capacity. If those trendlines continue, utility-scale renewable energy capacity should surpass natural gas in 2029 or sooner.<\/p>\n

However, if small-scale solar is factored in, within three years, total US solar capacity (small-scale plus utility-scale) could approach 330 GW. In turn, the mix of all renewables would then exceed 40% of total installed capacity while natural gas\u2019s share would drop to about 37%.<\/p>\n

Moreover, FERC reports that there may actually be as much as 220,985 MW of net new solar additions in the current three-year pipeline in addition to 67,811 MW of new wind, 9,788 MW of new hydropower, 201 MW of new geothermal, and 39 MW of new biomass. By contrast, net new natural gas capacity potentially in the three-year pipeline totals just 20,856 MW. Consequently, renewables\u2019 share could be even greater by late winter 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s assault on wind and solar has not \u2013 at least not yet \u2013 had an appreciable impact on the rapid growth of renewable energy generating capacity,\u201d noted the SUN DAY Campaign\u2019s executive director, Ken Bossong. \u201cMoreover, if FERC\u2019s current projections materialize, the mix of renewables will surpass natural gas capacity before the end of President Trump\u2019s time in the White House.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Electrek\u2019s Take<\/h2>\n

Just three days ago, I reported on<\/a> nonpartisan policy group E2\u2019s latest\u00a0Clean Economy Works\u00a0monthly update, which revealed that nearly $8 billion in clean energy investments and 16 new large-scale factories and other projects were cancelled, closed, or downsized in Q1 2025. (E2\u2019s cleaner net is wider than FERC\u2019s and includes such things as EVs, battery storage, hydrogen, and grid and infrastructure projects.) Clean energy is growing, but Trump\u2019s executive orders have still managed to slow its growth. Natural gas is still in the lead, but coal and oil still can\u2019t touch renewables.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

Read more:<\/strong> FERC: Solar + wind set for a strong 3-year run despite Trump\u2019s sabotage<\/a><\/p>\n

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If you find yourself in this situation or even just want to check out other options to make sure you\u2019re finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out <\/em>EnergySage<\/em><\/a>. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar \u2013 whether you\u2019re a homeowner or renter. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it\u2019s free to use and you won\u2019t get sales calls until you select an installer and tell us to share your phone number with them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you\u2019ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.<\/em> More.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo: Vista Sand Solar Farm Solar and wind accounted for almost 98% of new US electrical generating capacity added in the first two months of 2025, according to new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign. In FERC\u2019s latest monthly \u201cEnergy Infrastructure Update\u201d report (with data through February 28, 2025), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-cars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}