Switched On US Clean Energy Factbook: Generation Hits 20-Year High
Mar 18, 2026
Trina White, a BloombergNEF analyst covering power, grids, EVs and data center demand. Ethan Zindler, BloombergNEF head of country and policy research on U.S. energy policy. They highlight record electricity generation, massive clean capacity additions and $378B in energy-transition investment. They also discuss booming data center power needs, EV sales shifts tied to policy changes, and rising coal use amid growing demand.
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Clean Energy Held Its Ground In 2025
- U.S. clean energy showed resilience in 2025 despite policy rollbacks, with renewables and storage still dominating new capacity additions.
- Renewables were cost-competitive in many markets and captured the fastest build slots as rising electricity demand lifted deployment.
Investment Rose With Grids Leading The Growth
- Sustainable energy investment hit a record $378 billion in 2025, a 3.5% increase year-on-year.
- Grid investment led growth, driven by higher electricity demand and rising equipment prices like transformers.
Anticipate Lagged Impacts From Policy Changes
- Expect policy changes to show delayed effects; resilience in 2025 doesn't mean policy is irrelevant.
- Track sector-specific timelines because incentives phasing out may first shift buying patterns, then investment flows.