A review by the Sun Day Campaign of data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) shows that solar and wind combined accounted for nearly 98% of new United States utility-scale generating capacity added during the first two months of 2025
According to FERC’s latest Energy Infrastructure Update (covering data through 28 February 2025), 39 solar projects totalling 1,514 MW and two wind projects with a combined capacity of 266 MW came online in February. These accounted for 95.3% of all new generating capacity added during the month. The remaining 87 MW came from natural gas. From January through February, renewables added 6,309 MW of new capacity—97.6% of the total. Natural gas contributed 147 MW (2.3%), and oil just 11 MW (0.2%).
Wind provided 14.3% of new February capacity. Combined wind capacity additions for January and February totalled 1,568 MW—an increase of 70% compared to the 922 MW added during the same period in 2024. The new wind capacity in February came from two projects: the 140.3 MW Pioneer DJ Wind Project in Texas and the 126.0 MW Downeast Wind Project in Maine.
The installed shares of utility-scale generating capacity for wind and solar are now 11.8% and 10.7% respectively, combining to form 22.5% of the United States total. Including hydropower (7.6%), biomass (1.1%) and geothermal (0.3%), renewables collectively represent 31.5% of installed capacity. This marks a continued upward trend. A year earlier, renewables accounted for 29.3%. Five years ago, the share was 22.6%, and ten years ago it was 16.9%.
Despite policy opposition during President Trump’s administration, renewable capacity growth has not slowed. The Sun Day Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong stated that FERC’s current projections indicate renewables could overtake natural gas in total installed capacity before the end of Trump’s term.
FERC reports 22,890 MW of wind projects as “high probability” additions between March 2025 and February 2028. If these proceed as expected, wind could account for an additional 12.7% of installed generating capacity by March 2028.
