US Renewable Energy Generation Rises 11% in First Quarter of 2026

US renewable energy generation rose 11.1% in Q1 2026 as solar surged 23.9% and hydropower jumped 21.9%. The Silicon Review reports on EIA data showing wind and solar now provide over 20% of America's electricity.

Renewable energy generation in the United States rose 11.1 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, driven by double-digit growth in utility-scale solar, hydropower, and small-scale solar installations, according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign.

Utility-scale solar generation jumped 23.9 percent, while hydropower increased 21.9 percent and small-scale rooftop solar rose 11.9 percent. Wind generation grew a more modest 2.1 percent during the quarter. Together, wind and solar including small-scale installations supplied 20.3 percent of total U.S. electricity production, out-producing nuclear power by 14.3 percent and coal by 31.1 percent.

All renewable sources combined, including biomass and geothermal, accounted for more than 28.6 percent of total U.S. electrical generation during the first three months of 2026.

The growth is expected to accelerate. The EIA projects that utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage will add more than 80 gigawatts of new generating capacity in the U.S. by March 31, 2027. Utility-scale solar alone is projected to add 42.6 gigawatts, expanding its share of total U.S. utility-scale capacity from 12.8 percent to 15.7 percent. Wind capacity is expected to grow by 14.2 gigawatts, including 4.2 gigawatts of offshore wind from projects like Vineyard Wind 1 and Revolution Wind.

Meanwhile, fossil fuel capacity continues to decline. Coal generation fell 11 percent year-over-year, and natural gas posted weak growth of around 1 percent. The EIA projects a net decline of 4.9 gigawatts of fossil fuel generating capacity over the next 12 months.

The strong performance of renewables in early 2026 suggests the sector is accelerating despite policy headwinds. "Notwithstanding all of the policy obstacles thrown up by the Trump Administration during the last year, renewables raced ahead in 2025," said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign. "Now they are poised to really press the pedal to the metal in 2026 and beyond".

As U.S. renewable energy generation rises 11 percent in the first quarter of 2026, The Silicon Review examines how the sector is defying expectations and why wind and solar are now producing more electricity than coal and nuclear power combined.