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FERC: Solar Led 2025 U.S. Power Additions as Renewables Supplied Nearly 90% of New Capacity

FERC's three-year outlook points to rapid renewable growth with steep coal retirements.

Overview

  • FERC’s year-end update shows utility-scale solar added 26,556 MW in 2025, or about 72.6% of the 36,551 MW built, with wind providing most of the rest.
  • Annual solar installations fell from 33.8 GW in 2024 to 26.6 GW in 2025 as trade actions and tax credit shifts delayed projects, yet solar still led all new builds.
  • Total U.S. installed capacity now stands near 1,353 GW, with natural gas at about 42% and utility-scale solar at 12.2% now larger than wind, nuclear, or hydropower.
  • FERC’s high-probability outlook through December 2028 projects about 86.1 GW of additional solar, 19.8 GW of wind, and roughly 40.8 GW of coal retirements.
  • FERC also lists an upper-bound pipeline in which solar additions could reach about 240 GW by 2028 if projects clear permitting and grid interconnection.