# US energy sector sees solar and wind dominance 90% of new power plants in first half of 2024 are renewable energy projects - **Source:** [Ars Technica - All content](https://brifing.si/source/b728770c-8dda-457a-8986-84879c9fc42c) - **Published:** 2026-08-15 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/be6720c8-4dfb-42e6-bc2b-e78a923d1bd5 ## Record growth in renewables The US added 368 utility-scale power plants in the first half of 2024, with solar dominating the mix. Renewable sources accounted for nearly 90% of newly operational plants. While some natural gas plants also came online, their numbers paled in comparison to renewable projects. This shift reflects the accelerating energy transition across the country's power sector. ## Nation's largest wind farm The SunZia Wind South and SunZia Wind North projects in New Mexico, with a combined capacity of 3,650 megawatts, now stand as the country's largest wind energy complex. After nearly a decade in development, these projects mark a significant milestone for US wind power. Their completion comes at a time when onshore wind development faces multiple challenges nationwide. ## Decline in onshore wind projects Despite SunZia's completion, the broader onshore wind sector shows declining activity. Regulatory hurdles and local opposition have slowed new wind farm construction. US onshore wind capacity additions dropped 77% in 2023, and experts note this trend continued into 2024. The industry faces permitting delays and transmission constraints that hinder growth. ## Solar energy's dominance Solar projects lead new capacity additions by a wide margin, particularly in southwestern states. Federal incentives and falling technology costs drive rapid solar expansion. The solar industry expects 40% capacity growth in the first half of 2024. Utility-scale installations account for most of this growth, complemented by distributed rooftop systems. ## Energy transition momentum This renewable energy surge represents significant progress toward the US goal of carbon-free electricity by 2035. Department of Energy data shows renewables' share of generation grew from 22% in 2023 to 25% in 2024. Analysts predict this growth will accelerate in coming years as technology improves and costs decline further. ## Natural gas's limited role Despite renewables' rise, several large natural gas plants also came online in 2024. These primarily serve as grid reliability assets, providing flexibility to balance variable renewable output. Energy experts view gas as a transitional resource, with its role expected to diminish long-term as storage and other flexibility solutions mature. ## Investment climate and policies Tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act have become the primary driver for renewable energy investments. Energy companies report these incentives make projects economically viable faster. However, permitting bottlenecks and transmission constraints in some regions continue to challenge rapid deployment of clean energy projects. ## Energy sector's future outlook 2024 data confirms the US power sector's rapid transformation. Renewable energy's cost advantages and climate change imperatives accelerate this shift. Solar and wind could reach 35% of total generation within five years. This transition will reshape not only domestic energy markets but also influence global energy trade patterns significantly. ## Sources covering this story - https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/so-much-solar-digging-into-the-list-of-every-us-power-plant-that-went-online-this-year/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._