Renewables now make up 30% of US utility-scale generating capacity
Renewables now claim a 30.1% share of total US utility-scale electrical generating capacity, according to new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data.
Solar also provided nearly 100% of all new generating capacity in August, according to the SUN DAY Campaign, who reviewed the FERC data.
What’s more, renewable energy sources – biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind – accounted for over 90.1% of total US electrical generating capacity added in the first eight months of 2024.
Renewables were 99.8% of new generating capacity in August and 90.1% in first two-thirds of 2024. In its latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” (with data through August 31, 2024), FERC says 29 “units” of solar totaling 1,404 megawatts (MW) were placed into service in August along with one unit of biomass (3 MW). Combined, they accounted for 99.8% of all new generating capacity added during the month. Natural gas provided the balance (3 MW).
During the first eight months of 2024, solar and wind added 16,546 MW and 2,270 MW, respectively. Combined with 212 MW of hydropower and 6 MW of biomass, renewables were 90.1% of capacity added. The balance consisted of the 1,100 Vogtle-4 nuclear reactor in Georgia plus 977 MW of gas, 11 MW of oil, and 3 MW of “other.”
Solar was 99.6% of new capacity in August and 78.3% during the first eight months of 2024. The new solar capacity added from January through August this year was more than double the solar capacity (8,248 MW) added year-over-year. Solar accounted for 78.3% of all new generation placed into service in the first two-thirds of 2024.
New wind capacity year-to-date accounted for much of the balance – 10.7% – but that was less than that added year-over-year.
In August alone, solar comprised 99.6% of all new capacity added. Solar has now been the largest source of new generating capacity added each month for 12 months straight, from September 2023 to August 2024.
Solar and wind now make up 21% of US generating capacity. The combined capacities of solar and wind now constitute more than one-fifth (21.0%) of the US’s total available installed utility-scale generating capacity with wind at 11.74% and solar at 9.21%.
However, approximately 30% of US solar capacity is in the form of small-scale (e.g., rooftop) systems that is not reflected in FERC’s data. Including that additional solar capacity would bring the share provided by solar + wind closer to a quarter of the US total.
With the inclusion of hydropower (7.7%), biomass (1.1%) and geothermal (0.3%), renewables now claim a 30.1% share of total US utility-scale generating capacity.
Solar’s share of US generating capacity greater than either nuclear or hydropower. The latest capacity additions have brought solar’s share of total available installed utility-scale (i.e., >1 MW) generating capacity up to 9.2%, further expanding its lead over nuclear power (8.0%) and hydropower (7.7%).
Installed utility-scale solar has now moved into fourth place – behind natural gas (43.3%), coal (15.7%), and wind – for its share of generating capacity.
The combined capacities of all renewables, including small-scale solar, remain on track to exceed natural gas within three years. As noted, FERC’s data do not account for the capacity of small-scale solar systems. If that’s factored in, then within three years, total US solar capacity (i.e., small-scale plus utility-scale) is likely to surpass 300 GW. In turn, the mix of all renewables would then exceed 40% of total installed capacity while natural gas’ share would drop to about 37%.
Moreover, FERC reports that there may actually be as much as 212,412 MW of net new solar additions in the current three-year pipeline in addition to 67,395 MW of new wind, 8,944 MW of new hydropower, 199 MW of new geothermal, and 195 MW of new biomass. Thus, renewables’ share could be even greater by late summer 2027.
“Every month, for a full year now, solar has led the pack in providing new US generating capacity,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong. “And it is poised to continue dominating capacity additions for at least the next three years.”
Read more: Texans want its lawmakers to stop messing with its solar growth
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Zoox has announced a partnership with Resorts World Las Vegas, the first official agreement between a robotaxi provider and a Vegas resort property.
Zoox remains one of the more exciting autonomous rideshare developers we follow on Electrek. It may not be the largest or most expanded robotaxi company, but Zoox has something operating on roads that none of its competitors have been able to do—a purpose-built vehicle.
Earlier this month, Zoox announced an expansion of its testing fleet (not the purpose-built robotaxis) into its seventh US city, Atlanta. The expansion now includes Austin, Seattle, Miami, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
In the summer of 2023, Zoox expanded its robotaxi operations to Las Vegas, beginning on a one-mile loop at speeds up to 35 mph. By March 2024, Zoox has expanded its robotaxi geofence to five miles from Zoox’s headquarters to the south end of the strip, with multiple routes available in between, at speeds up to 45 mph.
Zoox also bolstered its robotaxi perception system for inclement weather and adjustments between day and night on the road. This expanded operational hours, including nighttime and continued service under light rain and damp road conditions.
At that time, Zoox said it was closer than ever to commercial operations and paid customer rides. It’s still not there yet in Las Vegas, but Zoox has announced an interesting new partnership, which should help get more passengers on the strip into its robotaxis while gathering additional feedback
Select riders can hail a free Zoox robotaxi in Las Vegas
Resorts World Las Vegas announced Zoox as its first-ever official robotaxi partner. This partnership entails a dedicated and branded pickup and drop-off location for autonomous ride-hailing service at the resort and an “experiential activation” within the resort.
After becoming the first company to operate a purpose-built robotaxi on public roads in Las Vegas, Zoox is now the first of such rideshare providers to sign an official partnership with a Vegas resort. Zoox hopes its unique four passenger robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals will add to the overall experience of Resorts World guests wanting to explore other parts of the strip. Per Zoox’s chief product officer Michael White:
Zoox and Resorts World share a joint focus on creating superior customer experiences. When visitors ride with Zoox, they’ll find the service offers an extension of the signature hospitality they’ve come to expect from Resorts World’s collection of premium brands, including Hilton, Conrad, and Crockfords. This partnership will allow us to enhance the overall guest journey, adding to their Las Vegas experience with personalized mobility.
To that note, Resorts World Las Vegas president and CFO Carlos Castro shared a similar sentiment about Zoox’s technology and how it can add to the world of premium hospitality, much of which Vegas has become renowned for:
At Resorts World, we seek partners that align with our vision of what the future of guest experiences can be. This collaboration with Zoox reflects our commitment to integrating technology solutions that elevate our service offerings and enhance how guests experience our property. By welcoming Zoox robotaxis into our transportation ecosystem, we’re creating new possibilities for our guests, while reinforcing Las Vegas’s position as a global innovation hub.
There is a catch.
Since Zoox has not yet been commercially launched for paid public rides in Las Vegas, interested riders must sign up for the company’s Explorer program. This program invites select riders to experience the Zoox robotaxi for free and provide feedback.
The company plans to open its robotaxi service to the general public in Las Vegas later this year.
I’m going to try to get on the Zoox Explorer list and test one of these rides out in Las Vegas… you know… for research purposes.
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![Texas just shot its wind + solar boom in the foot on purpose [Update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/czNmcy1wcml2YXRlL3Jhd3BpeGVsX2ltYWdlcy93ZWJzaXRlX2NvbnRlbnQvZmwzNjM4Njg2NjM3MC1pbWFnZS5qcGc.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Texas is No. 2 in the US for wind and solar capacity, but the Texas Senate passed a bill that aims to kneecap clean energy with an industry-killing review process. Here’s what happened in the House.
May 28, 2025: The Senate passed SB 819, which would have created prohibitive new restrictions on wind and solar energy development that didn’t apply to any other form of energy. But it failed to meet deadlines that would have allowed it to progress in the House, so it’s now dead in the water. (Good riddance.)
SB 388 and SB 715, also anti-renewable, also died in the House of Representatives for the same reason. SB 388 would have required 50% of new energy generation to be “dispatchable,” but the bill unfairly excluded battery storage as a form of dispatchable energy. SB 715 wanted to require existing renewable energy installations to install backup energy.
Adrian Shelley, Texas director of Public Citizen, said, “The failure of these three bills is a victory for ratepayers. It is also a tacit recognition by a legislature that is too friendly to fossil fuels that renewable energy sources are an indispensable part of powering the state.”
April 15, 2025: The Texas Senate today passed SB 819, which creates new restrictions on the development of wind and solar energy under the guise of “protecting” wildlife. The restrictions don’t apply to any other forms of energy.
Texas uses an extraordinary amount of power, and renewables play a big part in supplying that power. The Texas Tribune reported in March that “ERCOT [the Texas grid] predicts that Texas’ energy demand will nearly double by 2030, with power supply projected to fall short of peak demand in a worst-case scenario beginning in summer 2026.” That’s because of extreme weather, population growth, and crypto-mining facilities.
As of February, Texas increased its energy supply by 35% over the last four years, and 92% of that supply came from solar, wind, and battery storage.
Solar is the largest source of energy generating capacity that has been added to the Texas grid. That’s because it’s cost-effective and it can be deployed quickly. So if new solar projects are kneecapped, power demand will outstrip supply in the Lone Star State.
Daniel Giese, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)’s Texas director of state affairs, stated after the Senate’s vote, “With energy demand rising fast, Texas needs every megawatt it can generate to keep the lights on and our economy strong. We cannot afford to turn away from the pro-energy and pro-business policies that made the Lone Star State the energy capital, but that’s exactly what SB 819 does. We urge the Texas House to reject this bill.”
Less clean energy would also jack up electricity bills for Texans, and rural areas would lose billions in landowner revenue and tax payments. Every time a wind farm or solar farm is installed on rural land, it brings a lot of money to the community that surrounds it. A January report estimated that existing and planned solar, wind, and battery storage projects will contribute $20 billion in local tax revenue and $29.5 billion in landowner payments.
What’s especially baffling about this bill is that it flies in the face of a core Texas value – keeping the government out of private property decisions – yet it does precisely the opposite.
Environment Texas executive director Luke Metzger issued the following response: ‘By making it much more difficult to build wind and solar energy in Texas, this bill threatens to increase pollution, increase blackouts and increase our electric bills.
“Under the guise of helping land and wildlife, SB 819 would create a discriminatory and capricious permitting standard that could grind renewable energy development to a halt.
“We urge the House of Representatives to reject this bill and instead support policies that promote a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for all Texans.”
It will come as no surprise to regular readers that I find this bill ludicrously masochistic. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and please keep it civil.
Read more: A vast 600 MW Texas solar farm just hit a major milestone [update]
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Chevy is making it more affordable to drive off in one of its new EVs. With new incentives, you can now snag a 2025 Chevy Silverado EV for much less than a Tesla Cybertruck. The Equinox and Blazer EVs are also on sale this month.
Chevy EVs are getting more affordable
With the electric Silverado, Equinox, and Blazer rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US.
In the first quarter, GM sold 10,329 Chevy Equinox, 6,187 Blazer, and 2,383 Silverado EVs in the US. Arguably, the biggest reason behind the brand’s success is affordability.
Starting at just $34,995, GM calls the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV. The base LT FWD model has an EPA-estimated range of 319 miles, more than enough for your typical daily commute.
Chevy launched new deals ahead of Memorial Day, making its EVs even more affordable. After cutting interest rates to 0% APR, Chevy’s electric pickup is significantly cheaper to finance than the Tesla Cybertruck.
The 2025 Chevy Silverado EV is now listed at 0% APR for 60 months, plus you can still take advantage of the potential $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
According to CarsDirect, the rate cut on a 5-year loan could translate to almost $5,300 in savings. The Cybertruck has a 5-year interest rate of 5.49%.
Chevy is offering 0% APR on all electric vehicles, including the 2025 Equinox and Blazer EVs. Both are also eligible for the $7,500 EV tax credit.
The 2025 Equinox EV FWD LT remains one of the best deals right now, with monthly leases starting at just $289. The 2LT model may be an even better deal at just $299 per month.
Chevy is offering leases as low as $399 per month on the 2024 Blazer EV and $849 per month for the 2024 Silverado EV Crew 4WD RST.
Thinking about trying out Chevy’s new EV lineup for yourself? We’ll help you get started. Check out our links below to find Silverado, Equinox, and Blazer EVs at a dealer near you.
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