Wind and solar energy have significantly expanded their role in the United States power mix over the past two decades, rising from less than 1% of total electricity generation in 2005 to 17% in 2025, according to data from the Electric Power Monthly.

In absolute terms, combined wind and utility-scale solar generation reached 760,000 gigawatthours (GWh) in 2025, an increase of 88,000 GWh compared to the previous year. A power plant is classified as utility-scale if it has at least 1 megawatt (MW) of generating capacity.

Wind power remained the largest contributor among the two technologies, generating 464,000 GWh in 2025, up 3% year-on-year. Meanwhile, utility-scale solar recorded the fastest growth, with generation rising 34% to 296,000 GWh. Electricity output from utility-scale solar has increased consistently every year since 2006.

Small-scale solar, which has been tracked since 2014, also continued its upward trend. In 2025, it generated 93,000 GWh, marking an 11% increase compared to 2024. When both utility-scale and small-scale solar are combined, the share of wind and solar in total U.S. electricity generation rises to 19%.

Despite this growth, wind and solar remain intermittent energy sources, producing electricity only when wind or sunlight is available. In contrast, dispatchable power sources—such as natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy—can operate continuously and provide baseload power. These sources collectively accounted for 75% of U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2025.

The figures highlight both the rapid expansion of renewable energy and the ongoing reliance on conventional generation technologies to ensure grid stability.