US Solar Boom Can't Keep Up With Soaring Electricity Demand

In the first three months of 2025, US solar power generation surged by a staggering 44 percent year-over-year, driven by new generating facilities brought online at the end of the year to qualify for tax incentives. However, unlike China, this growth hasn't been enough to offset rising electricity demand. Coal use also increased by 23 percent during the same period. Increased data center use and the electrification of transportation and appliances led to nearly 3 percent electricity demand growth in 2024 and another nearly 5 percent increase in Q1 2025. While wind power also saw a 12 percent increase, renewable energy growth still lags behind the surge in demand.