American Clean Power
Clean Power 101
Clean power is quickly becoming America’s dominant energy source, as renewables like wind and solar—coupled with battery storage—led new power additions over the past several years. Clean energy is also a leading source of U.S. job creation and investment.
Key facts about clean power
1.4 million
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Homegrown, affordable, and reliable
Clean energy is set to become America’s dominant power source. Harnessing our world-class clean energy resources will play an essential role in strengthening the country’s economy. Fully realizing our clean power potential will create good-paying jobs, boost U.S. manufacturing, and drive investment across the nation.
Over 340 GW installed
The U.S. has over 340 gigawatts of clean energy installed.
Fastest-growing jobs
Wind turbine technician and solar PV installer are among the country’s fastest-growing occupations, projected to grow 50% and 42%, respectively, in the next decade, compared to the average pace of 3%.
Employment for U.S. veterans
The land-based wind and solar industries employ higher shares of veterans, 8% and 9% respectively, than the national workforce average (5%).
Over 18% of U.S. electricity
Based on data from Bloomberg NEF and the Lawrence Berkley Lab, wind and solar capital costs have fallen 23% and 75% respectively over the last decade, making them, without subsidies, the most affordable new electricity sources in the majority of the U.S.
America's most affordable power
Wind and solar costs have fallen 31% and 46% respectively over the last decade, making them the most affordable new electricity sources in the majority of the U.S.
Keeping retail rates low
States with the largest share of clean energy largely experienced smaller retail power price increases and, in some cases, have seen decreases than those without. Texas, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Iowa all have seen their retail rates decrease over the last 20 years as their share of generation from clean power has hit 25% or more.
Strengthening local communities
Wind and solar projects pay an estimated $5.8 billion a year in landowner lease payments and state and local taxes.
Clean Energy Feels Like Home
Clean energy projects benefit local communities and the careers of people living in these communities. Renewable energy projects create more reliable and secure energy infrastructure while increasing revenue.
Open video in lightboxAnswers to top clean power questions
What is clean power?
Clean power encompasses renewable resources that don’t emit greenhouse gases or other emissions, including wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal.
Clean power is increasingly being paired with energy storage.
Is clean energy expensive?
No. The costs of wind and solar have fallen significantly over the last decade, making them the most affordable sources of new energy in many parts of the country. In many places, it’s now cheaper to build new wind and solar projects than it is to continue operating legacy power plants or build new gas power plants.
Is clean energy reliable?
Yes. Solar and wind output is highly predictable, giving grid operators ample time to adjust to changes in output. Battery storage systems serve as dispatchable back-up power for the broader grid system. Storage facilities are often charged when there is an oversupply of energy and are dispatched as needed during higher demand periods, improving grid efficiency and stability. With a diverse energy mix that includes wind, solar, and storage facilities, grid operators can optimize the energy sources available to them for a more resilient electricity grid.
Is clean energy good for the environment?
Clean energy sources like wind and solar are critical parts of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. They also avoid air pollution like particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide that create smog and trigger asthma attacks. In addition, wind and solar save 105 billion gallons of water a year when compared to thermal power plants, such as fossil fuel and nuclear plants, because they don’t need water for cooling.
Does clean energy depend on subsidies?
Clean energy initially relied on government subsidies to compete with established fossil fuel industries and to overcome high startup and technology costs. These subsidies played a critical role in accelerating research, development, and deployment of solar, wind, and other renewable technologies. By reducing the financial risk for early investors and companies, subsidies helped build the infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce needed to support a clean energy economy.
Over time, these investments paid off by driving innovation, lowering production costs, and creating millions of jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Today, wind and solar is the cheapest source of new electricity generation in most of the U.S. The industry has reached a level of scale and maturity that no longer requires the same level of public support to thrive. What began as a subsidized push toward sustainability has evolved into a self-sustaining economic engine.
