Key Impact Points:
- Clean energy topped 51% of U.S. power generation for the first time in March 2025.
- Seasonal drop in demand and rising solar output could push that record even higher in April.
- Wind output has slowed, but growing solar capacity is expected to lift clean power’s share.
U.S. Clean Power Momentum Continues
The U.S. is on track to hit a new clean energy milestone this April, with clean electricity sources likely to account for an even greater share of the power mix than the record 51% reached in March, according to data from energy think tank Ember.
With electricity demand dipping during the spring “shoulder season,” utilities are cutting fossil fuel output just as solar and wind production ramps up.
“Clean Energy sources generated more than half of all U.S. electricity supplies for the first time in March, accounting for 51% of all utility-scale electricity output that month,” Ember reported.
Seasonal Shift Favors Clean Power
April has historically marked the annual low for electricity consumption in the U.S., falling between heating-heavy winters and air-conditioning-driven summers. That lull, paired with a seasonal surge in solar and wind generation, sets the stage for another clean energy high.
In April 2024, clean sources supplied 49% of U.S. electricity—now surpassed by March 2025’s 51%. Wind and solar combined for 23.5% of the mix last April and reached a new record of 24.4% in March 2025.
“The share of electricity from wind farms alone was 15% in April last year, and hit a new record of 15.2% in March of 2025,” the report notes.
Wind Lags, But Solar Leads
So far in April, wind power is down 7% from the same period last year, with output in ERCOT—the top U.S. wind hub—off by 3%. Forecasts suggest wind may stay near or below long-term averages through month’s end.
Still, solar power is on track to offset the wind slowdown. With more capacity installed and longer daylight hours in key markets like Texas, California, and Arizona, solar output is expected to hit new highs.
“Even average levels of wind output should be sufficient to help clean power sources increase their overall share,” the analysis finds.
Clean Power Set to Break More Records
Despite a slow start for wind, the U.S. power system is positioned to maintain its momentum in the energy transition. If trends hold, April could mark a new high for clean electricity’s share of the mix—surpassing 51%—and reinforce a trajectory toward deeper decarbonization in 2025.
