Solar provided 87% of new US electricity capacity additions in Q1 2024, according to a review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This is the seventh consecutive month in which solar provided more new US electrical generating capacity than any other energy source. Solar accounted for 99.7% of capacity added in March, marking the seventh month in a row that solar was the largest source of new generating capacity. For the first quarter of this year, solar accounted for 86.79% (or 6,497 MW), while wind contributed another 12.40% (928 MW). Natural gas trailed with only 49 MW (0.65%) and 5 MW of oil, biomass, 3 MW of biomass, and “other” capacity. Solar is now in fourth place for its share of US generating capacity, surpassing natural gas (43.79%), coal (15.87%) and wind.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
