Solar power surges ahead despite political opposition
The U.S. added more solar energy capacity in 2024 than any other power source in over two decades, even as the new energy secretary and former President Trump attack renewables.
Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- A new industry report shows that the U.S. added about 50 gigawatts of solar power in 2024, outpacing all other energy sources.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright and former President Trump have dismissed solar and wind as unreliable and costly, vowing to roll back Biden-era climate policies.
- Despite political opposition, solar and battery storage are expected to dominate new grid capacity in 2025, driven by the growing power demands of AI and data centers.
Key quote:
“There’s wild agreement that in order to do that, we have to have enough electricity, and there are facts that show that the fastest way to do that and the cheapest way to do that is through the deployment of solar and storage.”
— Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association
Why this matters:
In the real world, where the grid is struggling to keep up with demand, solar and battery storage are proving to be the most cost-effective way to meet America’s growing energy appetite. Even as fossil fuel advocates push back, the economics are making the case: solar isn’t just winning — it’s becoming indispensable.
Read more: In the race for clean energy, the US is both a leader and a laggard — here’s how
