The American Clean Power Association (ACP) has released its Snapshot of Clean Power in 2024, revealing a record-breaking year for clean energy. According to the report, 93% of new energy capacity added in 2024 came from solar, wind, and energy storage, highlighting the sector’s increasing dominance in the U.S. energy market.

The industry deployed an unprecedented 49 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity last year, a 33% increase over the previous record of 37 GW set in 2023. This rapid expansion reflects the sector’s accelerating momentum—while it took more than 40 years to reach 200 GW of utility-scale clean power capacity, the industry has now added an additional 100 GW in just three years (2022-2024). Today, the U.S. boasts a total of 313 GW of clean energy capacity, delivering reliable electricity to millions of homes and businesses.

Source: The American Clean Power Association 

Clean energy growth fuels economic and industrial expansion

ACP CEO Jason Grumet emphasized the sector’s crucial role in supporting the nation’s growing energy needs. “The only way to meet skyrocketing energy demand is to embrace all American energy resources. The clean energy sector’s dominant performance in 2024 demonstrates the unique role clean power is playing in bringing electricity online now to support increased manufacturing and data centers. Reliable energy depends on reliable policy,” Grumet stated. “Our nation’s economic growth and digital dominance require aggressive pursuit of a true all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

Other key highlights from the report:

• Energy storage expansion: More than 11 GW of utility-scale energy storage was installed, boosting grid reliability and flexibility.

• Wind power pipeline: The U.S. wind pipeline now stands at 40 GW, with 20 GW currently under construction, demonstrating sustained investment in wind energy.

• Manufacturing boom: The clean energy sector saw significant manufacturing expansion, with 46 new U.S. primary component manufacturing projects across the utility-scale wind, solar, and storage supply chains coming online in 2024.

• Red states drive growth: Traditionally conservative states led the way in clean energy expansion, with Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky increasing operational capacity by over 200% year-over-year.

With the new Trump administration, the country's energy sector is eagerly watching to ensure that the transition to clean energy does not stall at past achievements but continues to move forward. Sustaining this momentum is crucial to securing a cleaner and more resilient energy future, especially after the record growth of the industry in 2024, which has demonstrated its vital role in meeting the U.S. energy demand and driving economic progress.