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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On today’s festive episode of Quick Charge, Tesla steps up for its owners by calling in mobile charging stations to cut down on wait time. Meanwhile Hyundai has some extra goodies for your stockings and Texas is cleaning up its act.
We’ve also got big savings for Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra shoppers, as well as some good environmental news in the form of new solar and wind projects coming online at a record clip, and a dirty Texas mine that’s cleaning up its act.
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Dodge is rolling out a hefty discount on the 2025 Charger Daytona EV even though it hasn’t officially hit the market yet. According to a dealer bulletin, the 2025 Daytona EV qualifies for a juicy $3,000 discount, but you won’t see it advertised anywhere. Here’s how you could snag this deal and save big.
On December 13, Stellantis introduced the BEV Dealer Cash Coupon Program, an incentive program designed to sweeten the deal on electric Dodge models. Under this program, dealers get a $1,000 cash coupon for the Charger Daytona – and here’s the kicker – they can stack up to three of these coupons for a total of $3,000 in savings. Unlike traditional rebates that go directly to the buyer, dealers have the option to keep the incentive as extra profit.
The program covers both the 2024 and 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EVs for purchases and leases. But there’s more: if you’re leasing, you can stack that $3,000 dealer cash with a $7,500 lease incentive tied to a commercial tax credit (unavailable when buying). Add it all up, and you could score a whopping $10,500 in savings. This deal is slated to end on April 30, 2025, so there’s time to plan your move.
For some context, the 2024 Dodge Charger EV starts at $61,590, including destination fees. With $10,500 in potential savings, that’s an impressive 17% discount off MSRP—and that’s before you factor in any additional dealer discounts. Interestingly, Dodge has a higher-than-usual difference between invoice and MSRP pricing on the Daytona, meaning there’s room for negotiation if you’re savvy.
Of course, there are a few things to watch out for. Dealer participation varies, so your results may depend on where you shop. Plus, Dodge hasn’t released pricing for the 2025 Charger Daytona yet, so there’s some guesswork involved. Still, if you’re hunting for a bargain, the 2024 Charger EV stands out as one of the best financing deals right now, offering 0% interest for up to 72 months.
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Source: Stellantis via CarsDirect
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Toyota’s electric SUV may soon get a fresh start. After a rocky debut, the Toyota bZ4X is reportedly due for a rebrand, with a new name coming as soon as 2026.
Is Toyota giving the bZ4X a new name?
After launching the bZ4X in 2022, Toyota’s first electric SUV had a bumpy market debut. In June 2022, all bZ4X models were recalled over concerns that the wheels could fall off.
Since then, Toyota has struggled to gain traction. Through the first nine months of 2024, Toyota sold 13,577 bZ4X models in the US. Although that’s double the roughly 6,500 sold through Q3 2023, it’s still less than 1% of its over 1.7 total vehicles sold through September.
As Toyota looks to turn things around, the bZ4X is due for a complete rebrand. Speaking at a recent auto press event in Quebec, a regional director for Toyota Canada said the company is preparing to change the bZ4X name.
According to Motor Illustrated, Patrick Ryan, Toyota’s regional director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, said the name change will occur over the next year.
Toyota just revealed the 2025 bZ4X last week, so it will likely be for the 2026 model year. Prices for the 2025 Toyota bZ4X start at $37,070 in the US, or $6,000 less than the outgoing model. The FWD model has an EPA-estimated range of up to 252 miles, while the AWD trim has a range of up to 222 miles.
Toyota promotes its bZ branding as “beyond Zero” in reference to EVs cutting emissions. Meanwhile, the “4” determines its format (think RAV4), and the X tells us it’s a crossover.
In the US, all Toyota vehicles are badged with an actual name other than the RAV4 and bZ4X. A new name may make sense since bZ4X is a bit of a tongue twister and had a less-than-favorable reception.
After unveiling its new Urban Cruiser electric SUV earlier this month, will Toyota follow a similar route with the bZ4X? Although its first three-row electric SUV is now delayed until 2026, we could see a completely different naming system rollout.
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