78% Solar, 18% Wind
Solar energy continues to shine as America’s fastest-growing source of new power. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), solar reached 11% of U.S. electric generation capacity by April 2025. In its latest Energy Infrastructure Update, FERC reported that of the 12.2 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity added to the grid so far this year, 9.5 GW came from solar alone. That means nearly 78% of new electric capacity is powered by the sun with wind energy contributing another 18% and natural gas just 4%.
While natural gas remains the largest single source of U.S. electricity at 42.5% of total capacity, coal has fallen to 14.9%, and renewables are steadily climbing. Wind accounts for 11.8% and solar has surged to 10.98%, nearly catching up to coal in overall contribution. Nuclear (7.9%) and hydropower (7.66%) continue to play supporting roles, while oil, biomass, geothermal, and other resources make up just 4% combined. Importantly, FERC’s figures exclude small-scale solar—like the residential rooftop systems we install here in southern Oregon—which the Energy Information Administration estimates add another third to the nation’s true solar footprint.
Looking ahead, the trend is clear: solar will continue to dominate America’s energy future. FERC projects that from May 2025 through April 2028, 90 GW of solar will be added to the grid—nearly four times more than wind and far outpacing natural gas. At the same time, 24 GW of coal capacity is expected to retire, accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels. For homeowners in Jackson, Josephine, and Curry counties, this national momentum reinforces what we already see locally: solar is no longer the energy of tomorrow—it’s the energy of today.
