In a groundbreaking revelation, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has projected that all net new electricity generating capacity in 2026 will come from renewable sources, signaling a transformative moment in America's energy landscape.

The EIA's latest "Electric Power Monthly" report, covering data through October 31, 2025, confirms solar's meteoric rise as the fastest-growing electricity source in the United States. During October alone, utility-scale solar expanded by an impressive 23.3% compared to the previous year, while small-scale solar increased by 12.6%. Combined, solar systems provided 9.1% of total US electrical output, a significant jump from 7.8% just twelve months earlier.

The renewable energy surge extends beyond solar. Wind turbines generated 9.9% of US electricity in the first ten months of 2025, marking a 1.1% year-over-year increase. When combined with solar, wind and solar collectively produced 18.9% of total US electricity, up from 17.3% in the same period of 2024. Remarkably, these renewable sources generated 16.6% more electricity than coal and 10.8% more than nuclear power plants.

Battery storage has emerged as another critical component of this green energy revolution. Capacity increased by an extraordinary 45% since the beginning of the year, with 12,150.3 MW of new storage added. The EIA projects an additional 21,940.4 MW of battery capacity in the next year, representing a potential 56% further expansion. Meanwhile, wind capacity grew by 3,796.0 MW, with planned additions of 9,567.0 MW onshore and 800.0 MW offshore.

In stark contrast, traditional energy sources experienced significant declines. Natural gas capacity increased by only 3,479.6 MW, nuclear power added a mere 46.0 MW, and coal capacity plummeted by 3,241.1 MW. Petroleum-based capacity fell by an additional 476.3 MW. By comparison, renewable energy capacity, including battery storage, small-scale solar, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass, expanded by an impressive 40,174.4 MW during the same period.

The EIA forecasts these trends to not only continue but accelerate in the coming year. Utility-scale renewables, including battery storage, are projected to increase by 68,528.0 MW. This projection suggests a continued shift towards cleaner, more sustainable energy sources, marking a pivotal moment in the United States' transition to a greener future.

As the renewable energy sector continues to demonstrate remarkable growth and resilience, it becomes increasingly clear that sustainable technologies are not just an environmental imperative but also an economic opportunity. The data from the EIA paints a promising picture of America's energy evolution, where innovation, efficiency, and environmental consciousness are driving a fundamental transformation of the national power grid.