Renewables to reach 40% of total generating capacity, beat gas within a year – EIA

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By Michelle Lewis, Eletrek. 

Excerpt: Over the coming year, renewables’ share of total generating capacity will grow from 37.7% to 40.4%, surpassing that of natural gas and outstripping nuclear capacity fivefold, according to new data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign. Renewable electricity generation grew by more than 10% over the past year. According to the EIA’s latest “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through August 31, 2026), renewably generated electricity during the first two-thirds of 2026 was 10.2% greater year over year. The growth was led by utility-scale [>1 MW] solar (up 20.0%), small-scale solar (up 12.0%), wind (up 7.8%), hydropower (up 4.2%), and geothermal (up 3.8%). From January to August 2026, wind produced 333,367 gigawatt-hours (GWh) – 10.6% of total US electrical generation – while utility-scale and small-scale solar combined produced 329,119 GWh (10.5%), hydropower produced 180,940 GWh (5.7%), biomass produced 29,917 GWh (1.0%), and geothermal produced 10,766 GWh (0.34%). By comparison, the electrical output of US natural gas and nuclear power plants grew more slowly – by just 2.6% and 1.3%, respectively. Electricity produced by US coal plants fell by 8.7%.... 

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