New York, NY – Get ready for a greener grid. Wind and solar power are poised to dominate U.S. electricity generation growth over the next two years, according to a new report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Solar power is set to experience a staggering 75% jump, reaching 286 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2025, compared to 163 billion kWh in 2023. This surge is attributed to a combination of factors, including new solar installations coming online and favorable tax credit policies. The electric power sector is also expected to expand its solar capacity by nearly 38% this year alone.
While wind power won’t experience the same meteoric rise, it’s still slated for steady growth. Wind generation is projected to reach 476 billion kWh in 2025, representing an 11% increase from 2023. However, wind capacity is expected to remain relatively flat this year.
Meanwhile, coal power is facing a bleak outlook. Generation is predicted to decline by 18% to 548 billion kWh in 2025, down from 665 billion kWh in 2023. This decline reflects the ongoing shift towards cleaner energy sources and stricter environmental regulations.
Natural gas, currently the largest source of U.S. electricity, is expected to hold steady at around 1.7 trillion kWh in both 2024 and 2025.