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2026: A Year of Clean Energy Momentum Despite Headwinds

We’ve seen an interesting split between headlines and business trends in the energy sector this year. Many headlines point to an adverse environment for clean energy investment, while project plans point to a busy year for clean energy deployment.

Clean Energy Growth in 2026 

We just released our Clean Energy Investment Trends report, which was prepared by S&P Global Energy’s consulting arm CERA Consulting. The report shows that the clean energy market surged at the end of 2025, and investment in clean energy projects is likely to reach a record high this year as developers race to meet demand growth and claim expiring wind and solar tax credits.     

The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration confirms this. In the first quarter of 2026, 8,500 MW of capacity was added to the grid, with clean energy sources accounting for more than 95% of those megawatts. And the consensus among project planners is that the overwhelming majority of capacity planned to come online the rest of the year will be from clean energy projects.

Learning the Business Perspective 

Why is clean energy growing like this in the midst of policy uncertainty and other headwinds? And how are investors and developers navigating this year and the short term? 

These are the questions we’ll answer at the 2026 ACORE Finance Forum in New York City, May 13 and 14. We’ll hear from the leading clean energy investors, planners, and advisors – the people who are moving the clean energy market every day. 

We’ll also publish our next report, Navigating Uncertainty: Expectations for Clean Energy Finance, which focuses on companies’ plans for clean energy investment and the risks investors see on the horizon. 

Join us at the Finance Forum, and let’s discuss the ways we can keep the clean energy investment and deployment momentum going beyond 2026, guaranteeing the energy supply the United States needs and the reliability that electricity users deserve.  

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