Media Contact
A report from the Energy Information Administration forecasts that developers will add a record 86 gigawatts of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to the U.S. grid in 2026, with 93% coming from renewables such as solar power, battery storage and wind.
Tobias Hanrath
Croll Professor in Engineering
Tobias Hanrath, professor of sustainable energy systems at Cornell University, says the 2026 surge isn’t just a victory for green goals, it’s a direct response to a massive ‘time to power’ crisis.
Hanrath says:
“The EIA report is a milestone, and I can understand the surprise given the current grid anxiety and polarization of energy discussions. The 2026 surge isn’t just a victory for green goals, it’s a direct response to a massive ‘time to power’ crisis.
“A lot of the drive to install more generating capacity is from the so-called hyper-scalers – Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon – and their main concern is how fast they can get power. A fuel cell or solar project has a much shorter lead time than a gas turbine. So in the spirit of follow the money, this helps to explain why the renewables have fared well and will continue to do so, even in the face of current turbulences.
“For the first time, the greenness of renewables is secondary to their availability.
“Regarding capacity, don't look at solar and energy storage separately. The story is the hybridization of the grid. Batteries are no longer optional extras, they are the firming agent that makes solar a viable 24/7 solution for industrial load.
“Note where this is happening. Texas (ERCOT) is seeing a massive share – 40% of solar, 53% of batteries – because their market structure allows for faster ‘time to power’ compared to more regulated regions like PJM or the Northeast.”
