The United States is set to more than double its renewable energy capacity, reaching approximately 1.06 TW by 2035, up from around 414.5 GW in 2024, according to GlobalData, a leading provider of data and analytics. Renewable energy remains the primary driver of new capacity additions in the U.S., supported by state-level clean energy standards, long-term utility procurement programs, and sustained corporate power purchase agreements.

Solar power is expected to see the largest expansion, with installed capacity projected to grow from roughly 231.4 GW in 2024 to about 737.8 GW by 2035. Growth will be driven by state-level public procurement targets, distributed generation policies, net metering frameworks, and large-scale utility contracts in key markets such as Texas, California, and the Midwest. Onshore wind capacity is also expected to increase from approximately 156 GW in 2024 to nearly 269 GW by 2035, supported by long-term utility contracts and state clean energy standards in high-resource regions.

Offshore wind development, however, has faced repeated policy and regulatory interruptions since early 2025, creating persistent uncertainty for projects. In April 2025, federal authorities temporarily halted construction on Empire Wind 1 off New York despite federal and state permits. Construction at Revolution Wind off Rhode Island and Connecticut was briefly suspended in August 2025 before a court allowed work to resume. The situation worsened when the U.S. Department of Transportation canceled $679?million in federal funds for offshore wind-related port and logistics infrastructure. In December 2025, the Trump administration announced the suspension of five federal offshore wind projects, including Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind, citing national security concerns, delaying short-term capacity expansions.

Meanwhile, coal and oil generation capacity continues to decline as older plants retire, while natural gas and nuclear remain key components of the U.S. energy mix. Natural gas capacity is projected to rise from roughly 573.1 GW in 2024 to about 620.9 GW in 2035, while nuclear capacity is expected to increase slightly from around 97 GW to approximately 102 GW over the same period.

Mohammed Ziauddin, an energy analyst at GlobalData, commented: “The U.S. power sector continues to attract large-scale investments in renewables, driven primarily by state clean energy mandates, long-term utility procurement programs, and sustained corporate power purchase activity. Between 2025 and 2030, investment in renewables is expected to reach around $442.2 billion, reflecting the ongoing scale-up of solar and wind in key regional markets. At the same time, continued investment in natural gas and nuclear reflects broader federal and state priorities around domestic fuel availability, industrial growth, and long-term capacity adequacy, including life extension and advanced nuclear development.”

Trade measures and tariffs introduced in 2025 have increased cost pressures and uncertainty across the electricity sector, particularly for renewables reliant on imported components such as solar modules, wind turbines, batteries, steel, aluminum, and copper. Rising input costs have slowed project timelines, increased capital requirements, and contributed to delays and cancellations in some development stages, even as the underlying demand for new generation capacity remains strong.

Ziauddin concluded: “Despite policy changes and tariff pressures, renewable energy remains the main driver of capacity growth in the U.S. power sector through 2035. Solar and wind continue to expand at scale, supported by state policies and private sector demand, while investments in gas and nuclear address capacity adequacy and long-term system needs. Together, these trends are transforming the U.S. power system into a more diversified and resilient market for the long term.”