Wind & Solar Surged in Early 2022, Delivering 67% of New U.S. Power Capacity

The United States marked a major milestone in the energy transition during the first half of 2022: wind and solar combined to deliver 67% of all new utility-scale power capacity added across the country. According to newly released data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), this growth highlights the accelerating shift toward clean, renewable power—and signals a future where fossil fuels continue to fade from the grid.

Breaking Down the Numbers

From January through June 2022, utility-scale projects (those over 1 megawatt) added a total of 14.35 gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity. Of that:

• Wind power contributed 5.72 GW
• Solar power added 3.90 GW
• Clean energy technologies overall (including geothermal, hydro, and biomass) made up 9.66 GW, or 67.0% of all additions
• In contrast, fossil fuels—mainly natural gas—accounted for just 4.7 GW, while coal and nuclear added zero megawatts

This surge boosted clean energy’s share of total installed U.S. generating capacity to 26.74%, a sharp rise from 19.7% five years earlier and 14.8% a decade ago source: Electrek.

What’s Coming Next?

FERC’s forward-looking data is even more striking. The agency forecasts:

• Up to 192 GW of new solar could come online by 2025, with 66 GW considered “high probability”
• 70 GW of new wind capacity is also in the pipeline
• “High probability” wind and solar additions alone would yield a net gain of over 83 GW—roughly 2.3 GW per month

These figures do not even account for growth in small-scale distributed solar (like rooftop panels) or emerging sectors like energy storage and green hydrogen source: pvbuzz.

The Policy Boost: Inflation Reduction Act

Crucially, these projections precede the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—signed into law by President Biden in August 2022. The IRA includes $369 billion in clean energy incentives, marking the largest climate investment in U.S. history.

Experts widely expect this policy to further accelerate renewable deployment, reduce clean energy costs, and expand domestic manufacturing for solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries.

Global Trends & U.S. Leadership

The American trend mirrors a global one. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Economic Forum, renewables now account for over one-quarter of global installed capacity, and the share is growing faster in regions with strong policy frameworks and public support.

In the U.S., leading states are pushing the momentum:

• Texas led in new solar and wind capacity additions
• California continued its dominance in distributed solar installations
• Other states like New York, Illinois, and North Carolina made notable progress on clean energy targets

Challenges on the Horizon

Despite the optimism, there are real barriers:

• Grid congestion is delaying project interconnections
• Only 77 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines were built in early 2023, while thousands of miles are needed
• Permitting delays, supply chain issues, and local opposition are slowing some projects
• Natural gas still accounts for around 44% of current U.S. capacity, with continued reliance for grid stability

And while renewables are growing fast, experts warn that achieving a net-zero grid by 2050 will require tripling annual investments in clean energy infrastructure source: World Economic Forum.

The Verdict

“With each new FERC report, the prospects for solar and wind brighten, while those for fossil fuels continue to slide,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign.

Indeed, the first half of 2022 may go down as a defining chapter in America’s clean energy story. With supportive policy, growing public demand, and a surging project pipeline, wind and solar are no longer fringe alternatives—they’re now core drivers of the nation’s electricity future.