Solar and Wind Power 2024

The report details a decade of significant growth in U.S. solar and wind power, noting that solar generation increased more than eight-fold and wind more than doubled between 2014 and 2023. It highlights the leading roles of states like California and Texas, the emergence of small-scale solar, and the potential for these technologies to drive the U.S. toward its 2035 goal of 100% carbon pollution-free electricity, although current projections suggest the 2030 emissions target may be missed.

• Between 2014 and 2023, the United States experienced substantial growth in solar energy, with electricity generation increasing more than eight times and total capacity growing by approximately 688%.
• Wind power capacity and generation in the U.S. more than doubled over the decade from 2014 to 2023, with 425,325 GWh generated in 2023.
• California and Texas are the dominant states for renewable energy production; California led in solar generation (68,816 GWh) and Texas led in wind generation (119,836 GWh) in 2023.
• Small-scale solar installations, which include residential and community projects, accounted for approximately 34% of all U.S. solar capacity and 31% of solar generation by the end of 2023.
• Offshore wind remains a small part of the U.S. energy mix, with only Rhode Island and Virginia having operational facilities in 2023, though the South Fork Wind Farm became the largest operational offshore installation in March 2024.
• While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is expected to drive a boom in renewables, REPEAT analysis suggests the U.S. may fall short of its 2030 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 50-52% below 2005 levels.
• Under optimistic policy scenarios, solar and wind could provide the majority of electricity capacity in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. states by 2035.

APA

Climate Central (2024). Solar and Wind Power 2024. https://www.climatecentral.org/report/solar-and-wind-power-2024

Chicago

Climate Central. Solar and Wind Power 2024. 2024. https://www.climatecentral.org/report/solar-and-wind-power-2024.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Solar and Wind Power 2024 |date=3 April 2024 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/report/solar-and-wind-power-2024 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2024solar, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Solar and Wind Power 2024}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2024}, month = apr, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/report/solar-and-wind-power-2024}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }