Renewable energy in the United States has hit a remarkable series of milestones, proving that the clean energy transition has unstoppable momentum — even in the face of political headwinds.
Solar Generation Soars 28%
US solar generation in 2025 was a stunning 28% higher than the previous year. The electricity flowing from rooftops, parking lots, fields, and deserts was equivalent to the amount used by every household across 14 states in the Midwest and Northeast, from Wisconsin to New Jersey and up to Maine.
Here's a mind-blowing comparison: solar generation in a single month (July 2025) was more than an entire year's worth of solar generation just a decade ago.
Wind Power Breaks Its Own Records
Wind remains the largest source of renewable energy in the US, and it keeps growing. New England's wind farms hit a record peak generation last month — more than 30% above where the region's record stood just six months earlier, thanks largely to the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm off Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, the SunZia project in the US Southwest is becoming the largest wind project in North America — and the largest US renewable energy project ever built.
Clean Energy Hits 25%
For the first time in US history, clean energy sources supplied more than a quarter of the country's electricity. This milestone was reached despite federal policies that broadly favoured fossil fuels over clean energy.
What's Driving It?
Record-breaking installations in 2024 and 2025 — particularly in Texas, California, and Indiana (which jumped from #15 to #3 in solar installations) — have built enormous capacity. Solar generation year-to-date in 2026 is already more than 20% higher than the same period last year.
The momentum is remarkable: 2024 was the record year for new solar installations (21% higher than the previous record), and 2025 was the second-highest ever.
Why It Matters
These records prove that the economics of clean energy are now so compelling that no policy can stop the transition. Solar and wind are the cheapest forms of new electricity generation in most of the world, and every new installation drives costs even lower.
Sources: Union of Concerned Scientists, US Energy Information Administration, SEIA, GreenEnergyStocks (April-May 2026)
