ACPA reports record investment, 26 GW of new U.S. clean power in 2020

The first iteration of the American Clean Power Association’s (ACPA) Clean Power Annual report released last week found a record 26 GW of new clean energy projects in 2020 backed by equally groundbreaking investments.

This came despite the COVID-19 pandemic that crippled large segments of the American and global economies. At the end of the year, though, the report found that wind, utility solar, and battery storage power capacity topped 170 GW throughout the country, and such renewable installations represented 78 percent of new power last year. This manifested in the form of 16,836 MW of land-based wind projects, 8,894 MW of utility-scale solar projects, and 760 MW of battery storage capacity projects.

“The Clean Power Annual is a testament to the record growth and investment across the renewable energy industry in the United States today,” Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, said. “The energy transition is well underway as we aim to meet important climate targets and create good-paying American jobs. The clean power industry is helping to rebuild the U.S. economy while combating the climate crisis. We hope this report can be a tool and resource as our industry drives innovation and job-creating investments in every American state.”

At this point, clean power technologies are responsible for delivering 10.7 percent of the nation’s total electricity. A little over a decade ago, in 2010, just 28 percent of new power installations could be credited to wind, solar, and battery storage. Cost declines, technological evolutions, and general industry growth have massively changed the state of the game.

On the ground, this has also taken the form of more than 415,000 clean energy-affiliated jobs and investments of $334 billion. In 2020 alone, investment into clean power reached roughly $39 billion, leading to an estimated $1.7 billion in state and local taxes, plus nearly $800 million in lease payments for landowners. More than $120 billion in additional investment is currently underway.

Texas had the most clean power capacity deployed Of all states, offering 37,443 MW by the end of 2020. California followed with 20,354 MW.