US predicts stunning 80 GW increase in big solar, wind, and battery storage in next year – despite Trump

The US government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicting that more than 80 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage will be added in the next year, while total fossil fuel and nuclear power capacity will fall by almost 5 GW.

It’s relatively likely that US president Donald Trump has never heard of the EIA, a semi-independent agency under the country’s department of energy (DoE) and the nation’s “premier” source for impartial energy information.

If he had heard of it, he’d likely have dissolved it in its entirety by now. In the meantime, the EIA continues to collect, analyse, and disseminate what it promises is “independent and impartial” energy information in an effort to “promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy.

Its most recent ‘Electricity Power Monthly’ predicts that more than 80 GW of new utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage generating capacity – more than the existing capacity on Australia’s entire electricity grid – will be added in the US between March 1, 2026, and February 28, 2027.

Analysis of the EIA’s data by the Sun Day Campaign revealed that, according to current plans, 42,628.6 megawatts (MW) of solar will be added over the 12-month period to February 2027, as well as 14,507.4 MW of wind, including 4,155 of offshore wind, and 22,918.9 MW of utility-scale battery energy storage.

Conversely, the EIA currently projects no new nuclear power generating capacity and a net decline of 4,903.2 MW worth of fossil fuel generating capacity.

The 12-month period analysed by the EIA only builds on what has been an impressive start to 2026, with actual renewable energy generation increasing by 10.8 per cent during January and February, now accounting for 26 per cent of the United States’ total generation, up from 23.6 per cent during the same two-month period in 2025.

This two-month growth was led by a surge in utility-scale solar and hydropower, increasing by 23.2 per cent and 22.9 per cent, respectively, along with an estimated 11.4 per cent growth in small-scale solar.

And, to top it all off, electricity generated in the US by solar and wind was greater during the two months to start 2026 than that provided by either coal or nuclear power.

“Notwithstanding all of the policy obstacles thrown up by the Trump Administration during the last year, renewables raced ahead in 2025,” said Ken Bossong, the Sun Day Campaign’s executive director.

“Now they are poised to really press the pedal to the metal in 2026 and beyond.”

If you would like to join more than 29,000 others and get the latest clean energy news delivered straight to your inbox, for free, please click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.

If you wish to support independent media, and accurate information, please consider making a one off donation or becoming a regular supporter of Renew Economy. Please click here. Your support is invaluable.