Renewable Energy Dominates US Electricity Generation Amid Fossil Fuel Push

Despite repeated attacks on the clean energy sector by US President Donald Trump and his “drill, baby, drill” push, more than 99 per cent of new electricity generation projected to come online in the US this year will be from renewable sources, according to a new report. The findings, from “Electric Power Monthly” report, comes even as Trump has doubled down on his fossil fuel-first agenda, vowing to expand oil and gas production and roll back policy support for renewables. Solar energy is driving the bulk of new capacity additions. Utility-scale solar generation in the US rose by 22 gigawatts in the first 11 months of 2025 — enough to power around 20 million homes — marking a 33.9 percent increase since November 2024. Battery storage capacity has expanded even faster, growing 49 percent over the same period. Analysts say the rapid build-out of storage is critical to managing intermittency and improving grid stability as renewable energy use increases. Wind power, frequently criticised by Trump in speeches and policy moves, continues to grow. The sector received a boost on Monday after a US judge ruled that construction could resume on a wind farm off the country’s northeast coast. The ruling marked the fifth judicial setback for efforts to halt new wind projects, underscoring the difficulty of slowing the sector’s expansion through administrative or legal measures. According to the report, together, solar, wind and battery projects account for virtually all new power generation expected to be added in the US this year, pointing to strong market momentum behind clean energy. Experts say falling costs, state-level policies and sustained private investment are driving growth, even as political rhetoric in Washington remains sharply divided. The data suggests that economic and infrastructure realities are shaping the US energy transition more than campaign slogans. The US Energy Information Administration’s latest Electric Power Monthly report, which includes data through November 30, 2025, shows that solar remains the fastest-growing major source of electricity in the country. In November alone, electricity generation from utility-scale solar plants rose 33.9 per cent year-on-year, while estimated output from small-scale systems such as rooftop solar increased 11.0 per cent. Combined solar generation grew 27.5 per cent and accounted for 7.2 per cent of total US electricity output for the month, up from 5.9 per cent a year earlier. The upward trend continued over the year. During the first 11 months of 2025, generation from utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaic plants expanded 34.5 percent, while small-scale solar output rose 11.3 percent compared with the same period in 2024. Combined solar generation increased 28.1 percent and contributed just under 9 percent of total US electricity generation between January and November — 6.74 percent from utility-scale projects and 2.13 percent from small-scale systems — up from 7.1 percent a year earlier. Trump has aggressively sought to boost domestic oil and gas production. In his inaugural address on 20 January 2025, he revived his campaign slogan, “drill, baby, drill”, signalling a renewed push for fossil fuels. A year on, the administration’s drive to expand fossil fuel extraction has reshaped parts of the US energy landscape and influenced global markets, but the rapid rise of renewables suggests the transition is continuing in ways even its critics may not have anticipated. India condemned the theft and vandalism of a Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, urging swift action from Australian authorities. The 426-kg bronze statue, gifted by ICCR and inaugurated in 2021, was stolen by three unidentified individuals on January 12. Victoria Police are investigating, with CCTV footage partially capturing the incident, and scrap metal dealers have been alerted to report suspicious activity. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.