US renewable energy boom despite Trump policies

The United States is experiencing a significant boom in renewable energy installations, with nearly 85 gigawatts of new electrical generating capacity expected in the next 12 months, about 90% of which will come from solar, wind, and batteries. This growth is occurring despite President Donald Trump's efforts to revive coal and his administration's support for fossil fuels. Trump's policies, including attacks on Iran and promotion of AI, have inadvertently made renewables more attractive due to energy security concerns and the need for rapid, cheap electricity for data centers. Solar and batteries dominated new capacity in 2025 and early 2026, and even wind energy has added capacity. The green business sector is now a $10 trillion global industry, and cleantech companies raised $60 billion in equity funding in the first half of 2026, the best since 2022. The boom is partly driven by the AI boom, making it vulnerable to an AI bust, but renewables are increasingly seen as competitive without government support.