US solar and wind growth defies expectations – a decade in numbers
The latest US EIA and FERC data reflect a decade of explosive solar and wind growth – here’s how it breaks down.
The SUN DAY Campaign reviewed EIA’s latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with electrical generation data through June 30, 2024) and compared it to EIA’s data for June 30, 2019 and for June 30, 2014. It also examined FERC’s latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with installed generating capacity data through June 30, 2024) and likewise compared it to FERC’s data for June 30, 2019 and for June 30, 2014.
The installed US generating capacity mix of all renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind) now totals 389 gigawatts (GW). That’s over 50% greater than five years ago (258.58 GW) and more than double the renewable energy capacity that existed a decade ago (190.26 GW). Most of the growth is because of new solar and wind capacity.
Similarly, electrical generation by renewables has shown strong growth. Ten years ago, renewables provided 14.28% of the nation’s electrical generation. Five years later, it had grown to 20.11% and today stands at 26.01%. Again, most of the increase is due to wind and solar.
For the first half of 2024, renewables, including small-scale solar, provided 549,339 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrical generation. That’s almost 40% more than the amount renewables generated in the first half of 2019 (399,586 GWh) and nearly double the output reported for the first half of 2014 (287,136 GWh).
Over the past decade, wind has become a leader
Ten years ago, hydropower boasted about 62% more capacity than wind (99.64 GW vs. 61.45 GW) and generated 40% more electricity (140,659 GWh vs. 99,739 GWh).
Five years later, the two were nearly equal in both capacity (hydro: 100.73 GW vs. wind: 98.86 GW) and electrical generation (hydro: 153,790 GWh vs. wind: 154,338 GWh).
Now, however, wind has definitively overtaken hydropower with 152.64 GW of installed capacity compared to that of hydro (100.88 GW) as well as 247,435 GWh of actual electrical output during the first six months of 2024 compared to 126,139 GWh from hydro.
As of mid-2024, wind accounted for 11.72% of total US electrical generation. Five years prior, it was 7.77%, and a decade ago, its share (4.96%) was less than half of today’s figure.
Wind’s share of total installed generating capacity as of June 30, 2024, was 11.75% – a significant increase from its 8.25% share five years earlier and 5.26% a decade ago.
Solar is the fastest-growing source of new capacity and generation
In the past decade, solar has ballooned from a fraction of a percent of both capacity and generation to become the second-largest renewable in both categories.
At the end of June 2014, utility-scale solar provided a mere 9.25 GW (0.75%) of total installed US generating capacity. Generation by utility-scale solar (8,535 GWh) was only 0.42% of the US total and EIA wasn’t even reporting generation by distributed, small-scale (i.e., <1 MW) systems yet.
However, five years later, solar capacity (39.13 GW) accounted for 3.27% of total utility-scale capacity. Actual generation by utility-scale facilities in the first half of 2019 had risen more than fourfold to 36,042 GWh (1.81% of the total) with small-scale solar contributing an additional 17,520 GWh (0.88%).
By the middle of 2024, installed solar capacity had risen to 8.99% of total utility-scale capacity. Utility-scale systems generated 102,614 GWh (4.86%) and small-scale systems added another 42,449 GWh (2.01%).
This rate of solar and wind growth has defied expectations. Three years ago, FERC had projected that installed utility-scale solar capacity would reach 105.04 GW by mid-year 2024. Solar’s actual capacity today is 11.2% more than FERC’s earlier forecast. In addition, wind’s installed capacity is now 2.4% higher than FERC had anticipated.
Hydropower and geothermal ebbs and flows, biomass drops
Over the past decade, the installed capacity of hydropower has edged up very slowly from 99.64 GW in June 2014 to 100.73 GW five years later and 100.88 GW today. Because the installed capacity of all energy sources combined has grown by over 8% during the past 10 years, hydropower’s share of capacity has gradually declined from 8.57% in 2014 to 8.41% in 2019, to 7.77% in 2024.
Electrical generation by US hydropower facilities has ebbed and flowed from year to year. For example, it was 140,65 GWh in the first half of 2014 (7% of the total) and then 153,790 GWh in mid-2019 (7.74%) and is now 126,139 GWh (5.97%) for the first six months of 2024.
Electrical generation by biomass, as well as its share of installed generating capacity, has been on a slow decline for the past 10 years. FERC data indicate that utility-scale biomass capacity dropped from 16.05 GW (1.37% of the total) in mid-2014 to 16.02 GW (1.34%) in mid-2019 to 14.54 GW (1.12%) in mid-2024. Correspondingly, actual electrical generation fell from 30,095 GWh (1.50%) during the first half of 2014 to 29,520 GWh (1.49%) five years later and then to 23,062 GWh (1.09%) this year.
The smallest renewable energy source – geothermal – has shown a pattern similar to that of hydropower. Its installed capacity has risen slightly from 3.87 GW in 2014 to 4.14 GW today, while its share of the US total has consistently hovered around 0.32-0.33%. Actual generation has ebbed and flowed over the past decade providing 8,108 GWh (0.40%) in the first six months of 2014, then 8,376 GWh (0.42%) in the first half of 2019, and now 7,640 GWh (0.36%).
“Notwithstanding minimal changes in the contributions by hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, renewable energy sources have doubled their share of US generating capacity and electrical output over the past 10 years thanks to explosive growth by both wind and solar,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong. “If the trends of the preceding decade continue, renewable energy sources could account for 40% or more of capacity and actual generation by 2035.”
Read more: Q3 2024 update: How many US EV charging ports there are now
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Clean energy jobs surged in 2024, growing more than three times faster than the rest of the US economy and adding nearly 100,000 new positions. That brought the total clean energy workforce to 3.56 million people, according to the 10th annual Clean Jobs America report from E2.
But growth slowed compared to 2023. Amid policy uncertainty and an overall cooling economy, clean energy jobs expanded at their slowest pace since 2020, with about 50,000 fewer new jobs than the year before.
Even so, the sector still outpaced the broader economy. Solar, wind, batteries, energy efficiency, storage, and grid jobs made up more than 7% of all new US jobs last year and 82% of new energy jobs. Clean energy also takes a bigger share of the overall workforce: it now accounts for 42% of all US energy jobs and 2.3% of the total workforce. More people work in clean energy today than as nurses, cashiers, restaurant servers, or preschool through middle school teachers.
The report lands as the clean energy industry faces major headwinds. Federal policy moves have canceled projects, revoked tax credits, and added new regulatory hurdles targeting solar, wind, EVs, and more. While not yet reflected in 2024’s numbers, those actions are already hitting jobs hard. E2 found that since January 2025, companies have canceled more than $22 billion worth of clean energy factories and projects that would have created 16,500 jobs. Other analyses warn that more than 830,000 jobs could vanish under Trump’s big bill, signed on July 4.
“This was one of the hottest and most promising job sectors in the country at the end of 2024,” said E2’s executive director Bob Keefe. “Now, clean energy job growth is at serious risk – and with it, our overall economy.”
Clean energy and EV jobs have added more than 520,000 positions over the last five years, a 17% increase. That’s far more growth than fossil fuels, ICE vehicle manufacturing, or the economy overall. In fact, over the past five years, clean energy companies have added jobs 60% faster than the rest of the US economy.
Energy efficiency remains the largest employer in the sector, with nearly 2.4 million workers after adding 91,000 jobs last year. Renewable generation jobs reached 569,000 (+9,000 in 2024), while clean vehicle jobs totaled 398,000. The clean vehicle sector shrank by 12,000 jobs in 2024 due to an industry-wide decline across all vehicle sectors, but employment is still up 52% since 2020.
Regionally, the South is leading the way. More than 1 million clean energy workers are based there, and the South added 41,000 jobs in 2024. The West and Northeast each added over 20,000 jobs, and the Midwest added 13,000. At the state level, 23 states now have at least 50,000 clean energy jobs, and in all but eight states, clean energy employment outnumbers fossil fuel jobs.
“Every year, clean energy jobs become more intertwined and critical to our overall economy,” said Michael Timberlake, E2’s director of research and publications. “These jobs are now a vital anchor of America’s energy workforce. The strength of the US job market and the future of our energy economy are now inseparable from the growth of clean energy.”
Read more: $15.5B in EV, renewable projects vanish as Senate eyes rollbacks
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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Genesis is turning 10, and it’s celebrating with a few big surprises. The rising luxury brand is rolling out a slate of new hybrids and EVs, including an ultra-luxe flagship SUV and off-roader.
Genesis gears up for new EVs, hybrids, and EREVs
Hyundai’s luxury brand has quickly emerged as a dark horse in the luxury market. Genesis is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a bang.
By 2030, the brand aims to sell 350,000 vehicles annually. Genesis is launching a new lineup, including its first hybrid, a new flagship SUV, an off-roader, and several performance vehicles.
Hyundai confirmed during its CEO Investor Day on Thursday that Genesis will launch several new models soon, including new EVs, hybrids, and extended-range vehicles (EREVs).
Genesis will launch its first hybrid in 2026, followed by EREVs shortly after. At least two new SUVs are set to join the lineup, a full-size flagship model and an off-roader.
Hyundai said the new luxury SUVs will be based on the Neolun and X Gran Equator concepts. Although we have yet to learn all the details, the Neolun is expected to arrive as the GV90, an “ultra-luxe,” full-size flagship electric SUV. The X Gran Equator concept is a more rugged, luxury off-road SUV.
Genesis plans to expand the brand into up to 20 European markets while strengthening its presence in the US. Those in the US will see the first hybrid Genesis vehicles roll out, starting in 2026.
The luxury brand will also launch its first EREV, which Hyundai promises will deliver over 600 miles of range by using a battery and a gas engine that acts as a backup generator.
Genesis is entering “the realm of high-performance vehicles” with its new Magma brand. The first performance model, the GV60 Magma, will arrive later this year.
In under eight years, the Genesis brand sold a total of over 1 million vehicles. Over the next few years, it’s betting on new EVs, hybrids, advanced tech, sleek designs, and more to solidify its position in the luxury space.
Hyundai is also launching new vehicles across nearly all powertrains and segments. Check out our recap of Hyundai’s CEO Investor Day to see what’s coming.
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Starting at under $35,000 with up to 319 miles of range, class-leading tech, and more, the Chevy Equinox EV is hard to beat. But, is “America’s most affordable 315+ miles range EV,” really the best value?
The Chevy Equinox EV wins best value electric vehicle
The fastest-growing EV brand in the US is not Tesla or Rivian, it’s Chevy, largely thanks to the electric Equinox. After launching the lower-priced LT model last year, starting at just $34,995, Chevy’s electric SUV has been flying off the lot.
GM expects the Chevy Equinox EV will be the third top-selling electric vehicle in the US in 2025, behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
Considering what it offers, the electric Equinox is hard to beat, but is it really the best value? According to Cars.com, it is. The online marketplace released its latest Top EV picks ahead of the Federal EV tax credit, set to expire on September 30, naming the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV the best value electric vehicle.
The online car-shopping marketplace sifted through the 77 EV models now available, naming the best for 2026 across value, usability, performance, and technology.
Other top EV picks included the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 for best 2-Row SUV, the 2026 Kia EV9 for best 3-Row SUV, and the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 for top electric car.
The 2026 Lucid Air was named the top luxury EV, while the 2026 Chevy Silverado EV took the title for top electric pickup truck.
“The federal EV tax credit helped make EVs more affordable, and while its expiration at the end of September may slow demand in the short term, it doesn’t mean the end of affordable EVs,” Aaron Bragman, Detroit Bureau Chief at Cars.com, explained.
Many automakers, including Chevy, Nissan, and Hyundai, are planning to launch lower-priced electric vehicles, while several state and local incentives will remain.
| 2025 Chevy Equinox EV trim | Starting Price | EPA-estimated Range | Monthly lease Price (September 2025) |
| LT FWD | $34,995 | 319 miles | $249 |
| LT AWD | $40,295 | 307 miles | $319 |
| RS FWD | $45,790 | 319 miles | $324 |
| RS AWD | $49,090 | 307 miles | $367 |
With leases starting at just $249 per month, the Chevy Equinox EV is hard to match right now. Chevy is offering pretty significant discounts across its entire EV lineup, including a $10,000 bonus on most models and 0% APR financing on any 2025 model year EV.
The Equinox EV is not only one of the most affordable to lease, but it’s also one of the cheapest to insure. According to a recent study from Insurify, the Chevy Blazer and Equinox are the most affordable EVs to insure.
If you’re looking to grab the savings while they are still available, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to find deals on the top electric vehicles in your area.
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