Many components of renewable energy have settled into a rhythm of exponential growth, brushing aside Fossil Foolishness on the part of denialists and lack of imagination on the part of many governments. Have some more. Wind, solar, geothermal, mining, batteries, EVs, even real carbon capture. Texas is a fascinating case study in these conflicting trends. Ideologues and some CEOs battle fiercely against renewables there, while Real MoneyTM frequently carries the day in wind, solar, and battery storage.
- In 2023, the U.S. added more solar capacity that ever before, at 32.4 gigawatts.
- This added capacity surpassed any other energy source in 2023, marking the first time a renewable energy source outpaced fossil fuels since World War II, when the U.S. experienced a hydropower boom.
- The Inflation Reduction Act, along with the Biden Administration’s push for U.S. solar manufacturing, means these record-breaking years will hopefully be the year-after-year norm.
That represents 52 percent of all added energy capacity in the U.S., with natural gas coming in a distant second with only 18 percent.
According to the environmental website Grist, California and Texas led the charge, with large utility-scale solar projects going online in 2023. With residential and commercial sectors also reaching new milestones, the solar energy industry had an all-around stellar year.