U.S. electricity generating capacity addition share 2010-2025, by technology

In 2025, renewable energy sources represented over

percent of electricity capacity additions in the U.S., while natural gas capacity additions decreased to percent that same year. Coal electricity capacity additions were phased out in the U.S in 2014.

Growth in renewable electricity generation

The surge in renewable capacity additions aligns with the overall increase in renewable electricity generation. In 2024, renewable sources produced more than

terawatt-hours of electricity in the United States. Wind power has emerged as the leading renewable electricity source, surpassing conventional hydroelectric power at the beginning of 2020. This growth in renewable generation is occurring against the backdrop of a slight decrease in total U.S. electricity generation, which fell by terawatt-hours from 2023 to 2024, reaching terawatt-hours.

Future outlook and consumption patterns

Looking ahead, the trend towards renewable energy is expected to continue. Projections indicate that by 2050, renewable energy consumption in the United States will reach approximately

quadrillion British thermal units, more than doubling the estimated consumption in 2022. This growth in renewable energy aligns with changing consumption patterns in the electricity market. In 2024, retail electricity sales in the U.S. totaled about petawatt-hours, with the residential sector accounting for around percent of these sales in the previous year.