FERC Data Show Solar, Wind Supplied 90% of New U.S. Power Capacity Through July
FERC’s latest update highlights a 23‑month solar lead, signaling a pipeline poised to significantly alter the U.S. capacity mix by 2028.
Overview
- In July, developers brought online 46 utility‑scale solar projects totaling 1.181 GW, providing about 96% of that month’s new U.S. generating capacity.
- Through July 2025, developers added roughly 16 GW of solar, 3.28 GW of wind and 2.2 GW of natural gas capacity, putting solar and wind at about 90% of year‑to‑date additions.
- Utility‑scale solar now accounts for 11.42% of installed U.S. capacity versus wind at 11.81%, with all renewables at 32.22% of utility‑scale capacity.
- FERC’s high‑probability outlook for Aug 2025–Jul 2028 lists about 92.6 GW of new solar, 22.6 GW of wind and 22 GW of gas, plus roughly 25 GW of coal retirements and no new coal.
- Coal added 18 MW in July yet remained net negative for 2025, as DOE directed $625 million to coal plant retrofits and FERC logged 94 miles of new 345‑kV transmission in July.