Renewables and battery storage are projected to add about 82.7 gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity in the US in the next 12 months, while total fossil fuel and nuclear power capacity will fall by more than 1.4 GW, according to new data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), and reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign.
Renewable energy generation exceeded 29% of US total by end of July 2026
According to the EIA’s latest “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through July 31, 2026), renewably generated electricity during the first seven months of 2026 was 10.7% greater than in the same period of 2025. The growth was led by utility-scale solar (up 22.0%), small-scale solar (up 12.6%), hydropower (up 9.0%), and wind (up 5.9%).
By comparison, the electrical output of US natural gas and nuclear power plants grew much more slowly – by just 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively. Electricity produced by US coal facilities fell by 10.2%.
The combination of wind and solar, including small-scale solar, accounted for 21.6% of US electricity production. Further, they produced 49% more electricity than the US’s coal plants and 26% more than its nuclear reactors.
In July, for the second month in a row, solar-generated electricity was the leading renewable energy source. In fact, solar produced almost as much electricity as wind and hydropower combined.
The mix of all renewables, including biomass and geothermal, accounted for over 29.0% of total US electrical generation – up from 26.8% year over year.
Over last 18 months, renewable + battery capacity have grown by over 88,700 MW
During the first 18 months of the second Trump administration (between February 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026), the installed capacity of utility-scale solar increased by 32.7% (41,051.6 megawatts (MW)) while that of small-scale solar and wind grew by 17.0% (9,112.4 MW) and 8.0% (12,195.4 MW, including 800 MW of offshore wind), respectively.
The combined capacity of all renewable energy sources, including hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, expanded by 14.6% (62,092.0 MW).
In addition, utility-scale battery energy storage capacity doubled, adding 26,629.5 MW.
Thus, renewables plus battery storage have grown by over 88,700 MW.
By comparison, coal capacity fell by 2.4% (-4,131.8 MW) as nuclear power added just 0.8% (800.6 MW). Natural gas capacity rose by 1.5% (7,561.5 MW). The combined generating capacity of all fossil fuels, including oil and “other” gases, plus nuclear power, rose by a mere 0.3% (2,641.0 MW).
Renewables + batteries to add almost 83 GW of new capacity in next 12 months
EIA projects that over the next 12 months (through July 31, 2027), utility-scale solar will add 43,558.0 MW while wind will grow by 9,481.8 MW (including 3,355.0 MW of offshore wind). The mix of other renewables (i.e., hydropower, biomass, and geothermal) will add 193.6 MW.
EIA also projects battery energy storage will add another 23,428.9 MW by August 1, 2027.
EIA does not provide a forecast for the next 12 months of small-scale solar capacity growth, but the SUN DAY Campaign forecasts it will equal or exceed the roughly 6,000 MW added on average over the past five years.
Thus, the combination of utility-scale renewable energy sources and battery energy storage could provide 76,662.3 MW of new clean energy capacity by mid-summer 2027. With the inclusion of small-scale solar, that figure could rise to about 82,700 MW.
For the same period, EIA projects no new nuclear generating capacity and a net decline of 1,452.7 MW in fossil fuel capacity.
“Over the last 18 months, the Trump Administration has used every conceivable trick to delay, hinder, or cancel new clean energy projects,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director, Ken Bossong. “Yet, while fossil fuels and nuclear power have added just 2.6 GW of net new capacity, renewables and battery storage have grown by 88.7 GW. Clearly, the White House has bet on the wrong horse.”
Read more: Renewables’ installed capacity to beat natural gas within a year – EIA data
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