US clean energy installations forecast to hit record in 2026 despite Trump opposition

A report from the trade industry anticipates that by 2026, clean energy installations in the US will reach a new high, contributing approximately 60 gigawatts of solar, wind, and battery storage capacity—representing a 20% rise from 2025. Released on Tuesday by the American Clean Power Association, the annual market analysis highlights this growth despite challenges posed by the Trump administration, which has sought to impede solar and wind farm projects by eliminating federal tax incentives and creating permitting delays. Many of the nearly finished projects were initiated long before Donald Trump assumed office again in January 2025. This forecast aligns closely with the upper estimates from BloombergNEF, S&P Global, and Wood Mackenzie, as clean energy continues to be a swift and economical source of new capacity, making up the majority of recent power additions.