U.S. power plant developers and operators plan to add 86 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to the U.S. power grid in 2026 in the Energy Information Administration’s latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory report, a record if realized.
Solar power makes up 51% of the planned 2026 capacity additions, followed by battery storage at 28% and wind at 14%.
In 2025, 53 GW of new capacity was added to the grid, the largest capacity installation in a single year since 2002.
publicpower.org
by Paul Ciampoli
February 22, 2026