The American Clean Power Association (ACP) reported 17.1 GW of new utility-scale solar, wind and battery storage capacity in the US during the second quarter, marking the strongest second quarter and first half of a year on record.

The US clean power sector added 17.1 GW of new utility-scale capacity in Q2 2026, a 45% increase year on year, according to the American Clean Power Association’s (ACP) latest quarterly market report. The additions came from 164 solar, wind and storage projects, bringing total US clean power capacity to nearly 388 GW, equivalent to the electricity needs of around 83 million American households.

The quarter also marked the strongest second quarter and first half of a year on record for clean power deployments. ACP said the results demonstrate continued demand from companies and utilities for clean energy as a fast and affordable source of electricity, although it noted that federal actions delaying or impeding project development prevented deployments from being even higher.

Solar leads new capacity additions

Utility-scale solar accounted for 7.4 GW of the capacity added during the quarter, making it the largest contributor. The US also added nearly 5 GW of land-based wind and 4.7 GW of battery storage.

Land-based wind recorded its strongest second quarter on record, driven largely by Pattern Energy’s 3.65 GW SunZia Wind project in New Mexico, described by ACP as the largest land-based wind project ever built in the United States. According to the association, the project produces more energy than the Hoover Dam and will supply electricity for up to one million households across the Western US.

New Mexico consequently led the country in new clean power capacity additions, adding 3.6 GW to the grid from the SunZia project and ending Texas’ two-and-a-half-year streak as the leading state for new capacity.

Battery storage also continued to expand, with installed capacity surpassing 50 GW nationwide and reaching nearly 53 GW.

Clean power pipeline reaches record 205 GW

The strong deployment figures were accompanied by further growth in the clean power development pipeline. The pipeline reached a record 205 GW, up 20 GW, or 11%, year on year. This includes 111 GW of utility-scale solar and 56 GW of battery storage.

Clean power procurement also increased during the quarter. Procurement totaled 14.5 GW, up 23% year on year, while power purchase agreement announcements reached an all-time first-half record.

ACP said clean energy projects remain among the fastest energy resources to deploy and scale as electricity demand rises, strengthening their business case for companies and utilities.

Permitting delays remain a constraint

Despite the sector’s strong performance, federal permitting and review delays continue to pose a risk to future clean power development, according to ACP. The association highlighted land-based wind in particular, whose project pipeline fell 4% quarter over quarter.

ACP Chief Policy Officer JC Sandberg said clean energy is continuing to demonstrate its competitiveness in the US market, arguing that it can provide reliable and affordable electricity when allowed to compete on equal terms with other technologies.

The association said policy certainty will be essential to maintaining the sector’s current momentum and its ability to meet growing electricity demand from American households and businesses.