Solar and Batteries Lead US Power Plant Additions by a Lot. How Does This Square With the Trump Administration’s Agenda?

AI generated summary

The United States has seen a significant increase in power plant capacity, adding 22,332 megawatts in the first half of the year, primarily from utility-scale solar, batteries, and onshore wind. Natural gas follows, while coal and nuclear power saw no new additions. This trend is expected to continue through 2030, despite the Trump administration's focus on fossil fuels. Experts suggest that the inertia in the energy system makes it challenging for policy changes to quickly alter the trajectory of energy development.

While the recent phaseout of tax credits for renewable energy may slow down some projects, the demand for electricity remains high, benefiting technologies like solar and batteries. The current energy landscape shows a clear preference for renewables, with solar leading in planned capacity. However, challenges such as the capacity factor of solar and the vulnerabilities of gas plants raise questions about the sustainability of this growth. Overall, the article highlights the complexities of the energy transition amid shifting policies and market dynamics.