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2025 was a huge year forÌýAmericanÌýclean power. Annual deployments broke 50 GW for the first time. BatteryÌýenergy storageÌýbroke records every quarter.ÌýLand-based windÌýannualÌýadditionsÌýalmost doubled. Solar installations had the second strongest year on record.ÌýAndÌýtheÌý$79ÌýbillionÌýspent onÌýtheseÌýnew projects supported 1.4 million American jobs.ÌýÌý

ButÌýeven moreÌýisÌýon the way.ÌýACP’sÌýPowerÌýCapacityÌýOutlook expectsÌýover 80% ofÌýnewÌýpowerÌýinstallationsÌýthrough 2030 to be clean energyÌý– new electronsÌýthatÌýmeetÌýrisingÌýdemandÌýandÌýincreaseÌýreliabilityÌýareÌýoverwhelmingly clean electrons.ÌýÌý

The strongestÌýtrends? Clean power deliveringÌýfor Americans:ÌýÌý

1. Strong annual deployments continue.ÌýAt the end of 2025, the U.S.ÌýreachedÌýa record high of 188 GW of clean power inÌýthe pipeline.ÌýConsultant forecasts anticipate between 46-62 GWÌýmore on the wayÌýby the end ofÌýthis year,ÌýkeepingÌý2026 on par withÌýrecord-breaking 2024 and 2025.ÌýThe strength of deployments is heavilyÌýdeterminedÌýby a market and policy environment from earlier in the decade, as development decisions areÌýfinalizedÌýyearsÌýahead ofÌýprojectsÌýcoming online.
   
   

2. Natural gas prices spike, clean energy users save.ÌýWholesale electricity rates roseÌý41% on averageÌýin 2025, primarilyÌýdue toÌýhigher natural gas prices and demand spikes during extreme weather events. The Northeast, a region highly dependent on natural gas,Ìýhad anÌýaverage year-over-year wholesale electricity price increase of 60%, whileÌýregions with less natural gas dependency and higher clean energy penetration saw an averageÌýincreaseÌýof only 13%.ÌýWithÌýnatural gas pricesÌýstill on the rise andÌýanÌýincreasing likelihoodÌýofÌýextremeÌýweatherÌýevents,Ìýthe role of cleanÌýenergyÌýinÌýderisking wholesale pricesÌýhas never been moreÌýcritical.Ìý

3. Battery storage capacity is on track to break 50 GW.ÌýBattery energy storage systems (BESS) closed out 2025 with 45 GW/126 GWh of capacity in operation. Across the nation, battery storage deployments have grown exponentially, rising an average of 86% each year since 2020. At that pace, BESS is expected to surpass the 50 GW milestone by the end of this year.ÌýÌý
4. Utility-scale solar will overtake land-based wind in total operational capacity. Land-based wind has historically dominated U.S. clean power capacity. But the winds are shifting – operational land-based wind ended 2025 at nearly 161 GW while utility-scale solar reached 157 GW. Annual installations for utility-scale solar have been at least three times greater than the annual installations for land-based wind over the past three years. If this trend continues, utility-scale solar will take over as the leader in operational clean power capacity by the end of 2026.Ìý Ìý
5. Offshore wind is set to overcome barriers and support the grid. Despite regulatory and developmental hurdles, five commercial-scale offshore wind projects representing 6 GW are nearing completion. Three of the projects have already begun delivering power to the grid, two of which hit first power within the first quarter of 2026. With current operational offshore wind capacity at just 174 MW, this new capacity will provide a major boost to the northeastern grid.Ìý Ìý
6. Ten states are doubling operational capacity.ÌýTen U.S.Ìýstates have enough clean power in the pipeline to more than double their current operational capacity in the coming years: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia.ÌýThree of thoseÌýten (Arizona, New York, and Virginia)ÌýcurrentlyÌýhave more than 5 GW in the pipeline.
   
   

7. Total share of natural gas generation fell.ÌýDespite addingÌý4 GWÌýofÌýnetÌýoperational capacityÌýin 2025 (culminating inÌýa totalÌýofÌý578 GW), natural gas’ share of total electricity generation in the U.S. fell from 43% to 40%.ÌýÌýThis isÌýthanks in part toÌýanÌýinflux ofÌýclean energyÌýto the grid displacingÌýnaturalÌýgas generation during high demandÌýhoursÌý–Ìýpower from solar and batteriesÌýduring the day and earlyÌýeveningÌýreducedÌýtheÌýneed for natural gasÌýgeneration.Ìý

DiveÌýdeeperÌýintoÌýthese insightsÌýin ACP’sÌýAnnual Clean Power Market Report.ÌýÌý

Want to learn more aboutÌýthe latest clean powerÌýtrends?ÌýJoinÌýACPÌýinÌýHouston on June 1-4 forÌýCLEANPOWER, the industry’s premier event forÌýcutting-edgeÌýdiscussions about bringing new electrons onto the grid.ÌýBe a part of charting America’s energy future with top companies, experts, policymakers, and leaders across all types of energy.ÌýÌý