The US will add over 16GW of wind and nearly 60GW of solar capacity over the two-year period from the end of 2024 to the end of 2026, according to new projections out this week from the US Energy Information Administration.
The figures show that at the end of the final quarter of 2024 the US had just under 152GW of wind generation capacity, and by the end of 2026 the agency predicts the number to increase to 168.5GW of generation capacity.
Over the same period solar capacity is projected to increase from 122.6GW to 182.6GW.
This is despite President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on renewable energy as a “scam” and a stated desire to shift federal policy towards a renewed focus on domestic fossil fuel production.
Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin said last week that his agency will scrap the $7bn Biden-era “Solar for All” program, aimed at delivering residential solar to 900,000 low-income and disadvantaged households across the country.
Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen said earlier this week that he envisions growth in the US wind sector between now and 2030, and cited conversations with US customers for Vestas turbines.
Vestas announced 950MW worth of turbine orders as part of the company’s Q3 intake.