ACP Report: 2023 record year for clean power in United States

On Thursday, the American Clean Power Association (ACP) reported that 2023 was a record year for clean power installations in the United States.

In its Clean Power Annual Market Report, ACP said last year saw more clean power capacity installed than in any previous year. The industry added nearly 34 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale clean energy projects. Previously, the record was set in 2021. Last year’s installations surpassed 2021 by 12. 5 percent, the report said.

“Clean energy is fundamental to the American economy, accounting for more than 75 percent of all new power brought online last year. We are generating clean energy in every state and nearly every congressional district,” ACP CEO Jason Grumet said. “It has been a banner year for storage and solar, and there is real excitement over the 123 newly announced manufacturing facilities that will bring economic development to communities across the country.”

ACP said the US has 262 GW of clean energy powering its grid, enough to power the equivalent of 69 million American homes. The nation now generates 16 percent of its electricity from wind and solar, the association said, with solar, wind and storage accounting for 77 percent of all new power capacity installed.

Utility-scale solar installations accounted for 19.6 GW, and energy storage capacity nearly doubled to 7.9 GW, ACP said. Investment in domestic clean energy manufacturing has grown significantly, the association said, spurred by federal tax incentives. And, officials said, the development pipeline is up over 25 percent year-over-year to 170 GW, indicating a clear growth in clean power.