Solar is booming in the United States as power demand surges, outpacing the growth of any other electricity source and disproving claims that the energy transition is a failure. To be sure, solar remains a small portion of total electricity generation in the U.S., standing at just 3.9% of the nation’s power mix in 2023 compared to the 43% share held by natural gas, according to the Energy Information Administration, the statistical unit within the Department of Energy. And renewables face substantial logistical challenges in connecting to an aging power grid that is not prepared for the level of new demand the U.S. is facing after a long period of little growth. But leaders in the clean energy industry argue that the sector is reaching a turning point, particularly as Big Tech firms such as Amazon and Microsoft seek clean energy to power data centers that are the backbone of the Internet and artificial intelligence applications.
New York state has opened its latest solicitation for large-scale, land-based clean energy projects in hope of reaching 70% renewable energy by 2030. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will accept bids from solar, land-based wind, and hydroelectric projects. NYSERDA will also consider geothermal projects, and hydrogen fuel cells so long as the hydrogen fuel in question has been produced using renewable energy, according to the solicitation. New York state is looking to scale up its clean energy ambitions in pursuit of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030, and eventually 100% carbon-free energy by 2040.
The Pasadena Municipal Services Committee has unanimously approved two long-term energy contracts — a $47.1 million contract for renewable wind energy and a $55.3 million contract for battery energy storage. The 10-year wind energy contract with CalWind Resources Inc., which begins on May 1, 2025, is for a 20 MW wind turbine facility named Wind Resource II Project located in Tehachapi. The committee also unanimously approved a 15-year contract with Glenarm BESS LLC for a 25 MW battery energy storage system.
The Department of Energy will provide up to $900 million to deploy small nuclear reactors in the United States. The funding is available to so-called Generation III nuclear plants that are modular and incorporate enhanced safety measures. About 19% of the country’s electricity is generated with nuclear power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
California already gets some of its clean electricity from geothermal power plants, which harness the heat and steam found naturally near the earth’s surface. Now, the state is poised to add hundreds more megawatts of geothermal to its overall energy mix — only instead of drawing from local geysers and hot springs, the power will come from a cutting-edge project in Utah. Southern California Edison has agreed to buy a total of 320 MW of power from Fervo’s $2 billion Cape Station project in Utah, enough to power roughly 350,000 homes in Southern California.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved the construction and operations plan for the Sunrise Wind project, off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This final approval from BOEM for the 924 MW project, following the Department of the Interior’s March Record of Decision.
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and REC Solar have completed a 2.16 MW solar array near Central San’s treatment plant in Martinez. The project was financed as a 25-year PPA. As part of the agreement, REC Solar is set to continue O&M services for the solar array over the PPA’s lifespan.
Google has entered into an agreement with Berkshire Hathaway electric utility NV Energy to power its Nevada data centers with about 115 MW of geothermal energy. The proposed partnership has been sent to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada for approval. The company has set a goal of powering its data centers and buildings with 100% carbon-free energy by 2030.
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