Despite Unprecedented Challenges, Clean Energy Is Still Growing in the US. The Future Is More Uncertain.

The last year has been a time of whiplash for the U.S. energy landscape. Federal policy changed course under the Trump administration. Cost concerns deepened. Uncertainty and energy market turmoil increased. Projected future electricity demand rose dramatically from data centers and other driversnd new barriers to meeting that demand emerged.

These challenges have tested the country’s ability to keep pace with rapidly evolving energy needs. Yet even amidst significant headwinds, clean energy deployment remains strong. Data from the end of 2025, the latest available, shows that 90% of new energy capacity added in the U.S. last year came from clean sources.

However, fossil fuels are also gaining momentum. Coal use ticked up alongside a wave of new planned gas plants. Taken together, these stories paint a hazy picture for the coming years.

We review the pace of clean energy development in the U.S., key trends that defined a turbulent year for America’s energy transition, and where the story goes next.