Last weekend, Sebastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon by completing the world’s first-ever official sub-two-hour marathon. As someone passionate about clean energy and an aspiring runner, his achievement was both breathtaking and motivating. It also drew parallels for me with another ongoing marathon: the relentless pursuit of clean and renewable energy, which has been smashing records of its own. In a world where positive news is scarce, these accomplishments are especially worth applauding.
Despite efforts from the Trump administration and its congressional allies to impede the transition to clean energy—by undermining solar and wind power while supporting coal and fossil fuels—clean energy has shown resilience and growth. Solar energy, in particular, entered the second Trump administration with significant momentum, propelling renewable energy to unprecedented levels.
Here are four instances showcasing the significant strides in renewable energy, the factors behind these achievements, and what lies ahead.
US Solar Achieves Record-Breaking Generation
What happened: In 2025, US solar power generation surged by an impressive 28% compared to 2024. The solar output—from rooftops, parking lots, fields, and deserts—matched the electricity consumption of households across 14 Midwestern and Northeastern states, from Wisconsin to Maine. In a single month (July 2025), solar production surpassed a full year’s worth from just a decade prior.
How it happened: A significant increase in solar capacity has been recently activated. The year 2024 set a new record for solar installations in the US, 21% higher than the previous peak. Although 2025 saw fewer new installations, it still ranked as the second-highest year ever. Texas led the way in installations, followed by California, while Indiana jumped to third place from fifteenth in 2023. By the end of 2025, the total capacity was sufficient to power tens of millions of US households.
What’s next: The speed of new installations will partly depend on deadlines and restrictions from last year’s legislative changes, as well as tariff policies. Nevertheless, solar generation is expected to break records once more this year, with 2025’s installations becoming operational and additional capacity continually added. Early data indicates that solar electricity generation for the current year is already over 20% higher than during the same period last year.
US Wind Power Sets New Records
What happened: Wind power remains the dominant source of renewable energy in the US and continues to expand. For instance, New England wind farms achieved a record peak generation last month, exceeding the previous record by 30% from just half a year earlier. Additionally, the SunZia project in the Southwest is coming online, set to be North America’s largest wind project and the biggest US renewable energy project ever.
How it happened: Offshore wind has notably contributed to New England’s achievements. While land-based wind farms are significant, the new power injections from offshore turbines have made a difference. Vineyard Wind, located off Massachusetts, has been operational since last year and is nearing full capacity as the first large-scale offshore wind project in the Americas. The strong offshore winds have enabled substantial electricity generation, especially when needed most.
SunZia’s journey involved significant patience, requiring over two decades, primarily in permitting, to reach this stage. The project consists of 916 wind turbines in New Mexico and a 550-mile transmission line, delivering power to Arizona and beyond.
Even as SunZia comes online, it continues to set records: the contribution of wind power to California’s electricity mix has reached new heights several times recently.
What’s next: The future of wind power remains uncertain and challenging, partly due to the Trump administration’s opposition, particularly to offshore wind projects. This has led to numerous legal challenges aiming to halt these obstructive actions.
However, progress is more apparent for some offshore wind projects that are advancing:
- Vineyard Wind’s final turbine blades were installed last month, with full operations expected soon.
- Revolution Wind, near Massachusetts and Long Island, has begun supplying power to New England, with more to come as it nears completion.
- The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, set to be the largest in the US and among the largest globally, delivered its first megawatt-hours to the mid-Atlantic grid last month.
- Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind, under construction, are set to bolster New York’s electric grid.
Onshore, the new SunZia wind and transmission capacity will continue to contribute to California’s wind power levels.
Elsewhere, wind records continue to fall. Regional transmission organizations across the country, from the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest to New York, the midcontinent, Texas, and the Southwest, have recently set new records.
US Renewable Electricity Surpasses 25%
What happened: In 2025, renewable energy accounted for more than a quarter of US electricity generation for the first time.
How it happened: The influx of new renewable energy capacity has translated into increased renewable electricity output. Wind power remained the top renewable source, contributing over 10% of US electricity last year. Solar’s rapid growth brought it to nearly 9%, quadrupling its share since 2018. Hydropower followed with a 5.5% contribution.
What’s next: Renewable energy’s share of the US electricity supply has risen by an average of 1.2 percentage points annually, despite fluctuations. The federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts renewables will lead generation growth in 2026, with solar increasing 17% and wind 5%.
Renewable Electricity Outpaces Gas Monthly
What happened: For the first time in March 2026, US renewable electricity surpassed gas generation on a monthly basis. Renewables contributed 35% of electricity, compared to gas’s 34.4%, as reported by Canary Media.
How it happened: Spring is typically a strong period for renewable energy due to favorable weather conditions and lower electricity demand between winter and summer. This latest milestone is primarily due to the recent addition of renewable capacity.
The strong performance of renewables last spring meant that, combined with nuclear energy, they generated more than half of US electricity in March 2025 for the first time, pushing fossil fuels below the 50% threshold. This occurred again in April 2025 and March 2026.
What’s next: Expect more months where renewables outshine gas, and fossil fuels drop below 50%. These instances will likely occur in spring and fall. Achieving this will require renewables to keep pace with rapidly increasing electricity demand, while also facing challenges from a push for new gas-fired plants and administrative barriers to clean energy. However, renewables have repeatedly demonstrated their resilience.
Global Achievements in 2025
Renewable energy is making a significant impact worldwide. Here are some highlights:
- For the first time in 2025, wind and solar generated more power than fossil fuels in the European Union, as reported by Ember.
- In Colombia, solar power alone generated more electricity than coal on an annual basis for the first time, according to reports.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that solar power grew by a record amount globally in 2025, with China leading the growth, the European Union setting records, and India achieving 60% growth, as detailed in a report.
- Solar energy was “the single largest contributor to growth in global energy supply in 2025,” according to the IEA, marking the first time a modern renewable source led global primary energy supply growth. Solar accounted for over 25% of the increase, compared to 17% for gas, as noted in an IEA report.
- Wind installations worldwide reached a record high, driven by China, as reported by the Global Wind Energy Council report.
- In total, the world added a record-breaking amount of wind and solar capacity in 2025, 17% more than in 2024, according to Ember.
The Continued Rise of Clean Energy
The momentum behind renewable energy is driven by its numerous advantages. Not only is it the cleanest, but it often proves to be the cheapest option for new electricity in the US. Solar and wind can also be installed more quickly than new gas plants, considering the multi-year waits for gas turbines. Additionally, global disruptions have highlighted the risks of reliance on fossil fuels.
While new fossil fuel plants may still be built, especially with support from the White House, allowing clean energy to compete fairly will likely demonstrate its advantages.
Projections support this outlook. In 2025, solar, wind, and energy storage (batteries) experienced a record year, comprising over 90% of new energy capacity in the US, according to the American Clean Power association. The EIA forecasts that they will account for 93% of new power sector capacity in 2026. This growth will expand clean energy opportunities and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
The transition to clean energy resembles a marathon rather than a sprint. The individuals and communities driving this movement will continue to push limits and achieve new milestones. Expect more records to be broken on this path to a sustainable future.
