According to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign, renewable energy generation in the United States grew by more than 10% during the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year. Renewables collectively accounted for 30.3% of total U.S. electrical generation during this timeframe, up from 28.2% a year earlier.
The growth was led by utility-scale solar, which increased 21.6%, followed by small-scale solar up 12.8%, hydropower up 10.8%, and wind up 4.8%. Wind and solar combined produced over 22.2% of domestic electrical production, with these sources generating 57% more electricity than coal plants and 26% more than nuclear reactors during the period. In May alone, solar-generated electricity exceeded that produced by either coal or wind.
Capacity expansions over the preceding 12 months showed significant renewable energy additions, with utility-scale solar increasing by 27,995.1 megawatts, small-scale solar growing by 6,664.3 megawatts, and wind expanding by 10,252.6 megawatts. Utility-scale battery energy storage capacity increased by 16,551.8 megawatts. The combined capacity of all renewable energy sources expanded by 44,711.8 megawatts. Meanwhile, coal capacity declined by 2,235.6 megawatts while natural gas capacity rose by 6,289 megawatts.
Looking ahead, the EIA projects that utility-scale solar will add 43,971.9 megawatts of capacity and wind will grow by 9,414.4 megawatts by May 31, 2027. Battery energy storage is projected to increase by nearly 48% during the same period. The combined additions of utility-scale renewables and battery storage are estimated to reach approximately 76,907.1 megawatts, potentially rising close to or above 83,000 megawatts when including small-scale solar. By spring 2027, renewables’ installed capacity is projected to surpass that of natural gas.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI