The overwhelming majority of new power - generating capacity in the country is being provided by renewable energy , according to new government figures . The non-profit SUN DAY Campaign analyzed FERC data and estimated that "net additions to generating capacity by utility-scale wind and solar in the U.S. could total 116 GW by December 2020 — effectively doubling their current installed capacity of 115.5 GW. In the first quarter of 2018 , renewables accounted for nearly 95 % of such installed capacity across the country , with wind power leading the field , ahead of solar . The pace of such installations has increased in recent years and is expected to continue , with some sources predicting the current renewable capacity of 115.5 GW could double by the end of 2020 .
The overwhelming majority of new power - generating capacity in the country is being provided by renewable energy , according to new government figures . In the first quarter of 2018 , renewables accounted for nearly 95 % of such installed capacity across the country , with wind power leading the field , ahead of solar . The pace of such installations has increased in recent years and is expected to continue , with some sources predicting the current renewable capacity of 115.5 GW could double by the end of 2020 .