Despite strong support for fossil fuels under the Trump administration, renewable energy in the United States continued to expand last year, reaching new highs. Clean energy sources generated about 26% of the country’s electricity, which equates to enough power for more than 100 million homes for a year. Renewables also accounted for about 33% of total utility-scale capacity, highlighting their growing importance in the national energy mix.
Interestingly, much of this growth has taken place in Republican-leaning states. Ohio, Texas, and Florida together contributed over 70% of newly added solar capacity last year.
Projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicate that around 93% of new electricity capacity in the near term will come from wind, solar, and battery storage. This reflects a long-term shift away from fossil fuels, particularly coal, whose production has fallen dramatically since 2000.
Falling costs are a key reason behind this rise. Wind turbines, solar panels, and large-scale batteries are now cheaper than ever, making renewable energy the most cost-effective option even without subsidies. In addition, renewable projects can be built quickly, often in less than a year, compared to the longer timelines required for fossil fuel plants.
Global instability has also reinforced the case for clean energy. The recent U.S.-Israeli conflict against Iran has disrupted oil markets, pushing prices above $100 per barrel and temporarily affecting key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions highlight the vulnerability of fossil fuel supply chains, while renewables offer greater stability.
However, the crisis has also caused short-term setbacks, including delays in transporting materials such as aluminum used in solar panels.
Domestically, electricity demand is rising, driven in part by the rapid growth of data centers and artificial intelligence. While this could accelerate renewable adoption, federal policies favoring fossil fuels may slow progress. Analysts expect natural gas to meet a significant share of this increased demand.
The administration has been particularly critical of wind energy, introducing policies that have hindered its expansion. Funding cuts, reduced tax incentives, and halted construction projects have created obstacles for developers. Some offshore wind projects have even been canceled, with compensation offered to companies to abandon them.
Despite these challenges, legal action has helped reverse several restrictive measures. Courts have struck down bans on wind permits and ruled against cuts to clean energy funding, allowing multiple projects to proceed.
Overall, renewable energy in the U.S. continues to grow despite political resistance. The key question now is not whether this transition will happen, but how quickly it will progress and how strongly it will be shaped by future policy decisions.
Across the northern border, entities like MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX) (OTC: MAXXF) are seeking to bring to market another clean form of energy, geologic hydrogen. The coming years could therefore see countries having many alternative forms of renewable energy to address their different needs.
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