Solar energy has officially surpassed wind to become the primary renewable power source in the United States, following more than two years of market dominance. Recent data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reveals that utility-scale solar now accounts for 163.4 GW of total capacity, edging out wind’s 160.9 GW. This milestone reflects a broader shift in the American energy landscape, as falling costs and rapid deployment continue to push solar toward becoming the nation’s second-largest overall power source by 2028.
The U.S. energy sector reached a significant turning point in late 2025, as utility-scale solar capacity climbed to the top of the renewable rankings. According to the latest figures from FERC, solar has remained the leading contributor of new power to the grid for 27 consecutive months. Since September 2023, the technology has consistently outpaced all other energy sources in monthly additions.
During the first eleven months of 2025, developers integrated 35,321 MW of new generating capacity into the national grid. Solar dominated this expansion, contributing 25,467 MW, or roughly 72% of all new additions. In contrast, wind energy accounted for 15.8% (5,563 MW), while natural gas trailed further behind at 11.8% (4,179 MW). This surge has pushed total utility-scale solar capacity to 163.4 GW, officially overtaking wind’s 160.9 GW.
This transition highlights a dramatic shift from just a few years ago when wind energy held a substantial lead. The rapid proliferation of solar projects, fueled by decreasing costs for the solar module and increased investment, has allowed the industry to close the gap. In the current total energy mix, natural gas remains the dominant source at 43.1%, followed by coal at 14.7%. However, solar has now secured the third spot at 12.6%, followed by wind at 12.4%, nuclear at 7.9%, and hydropower at 7.5%.
Industry experts note that these figures only reflect utility-scale installations. When accounting for small-scale rooftop solar, the collective contribution of renewable energy now exceeds one-third of the total U.S. power capacity. This trend is expected to accelerate over the coming years. FERC projections suggest that by November 2028, the U.S. will add another 86,130 MW of solar and 19,821 MW of wind.
As renewable capacity grows, traditional fossil fuels are seeing a steady decline. While natural gas is slated for a modest increase of 8,983 MW by 2028, coal is expected to face nearly 20,000 MW in retirements. If these trends persist, solar is positioned to become the second-largest source of installed capacity in the United States within the next three years, surpassed only by natural gas.