Environment & Climate
US clean energy capacity additions projected to hit record 45 gigawatts in 2026
Projections show significant growth driven by AI data center power needs, expiring tax credits, and rising energy costs.
The short version
- S&P Global Energy projects the U.S. will add a record 45 gigawatts of clean energy capacity this year, marking a roughly 25 percent increase over 2024 levels.
- The expansion is occurring despite federal administrative efforts aimed at curtailing solar and wind power deployment.
- Surging electricity demand from AI data centers, high global energy prices linked to conflict in Iran, and developers rushing to use expiring tax credits are primary catalysts for the growth.
Key facts
- S&P Global Energy forecasts 45 gigawatts of U.S. clean energy additions this year, an amount comparable to the average power demand of Turkey.[Ars Technica]
- The projected 2026 expansion is approximately 25 percent higher than the previous record established in 2024.[Ars Technica]
- Analysts cite surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers, elevated energy prices tied to the war in Iran, and developers leveraging expiring tax incentives as key growth factors.[Ars Technica]
What remains uncertain
- The long-term sustainability of the clean energy growth rate remains unclear as tax credits expire and federal policy actions continue.[Ars Technica]