Texas leads nation in clean energy growth as solar and battery storage dominate grid expansion

In a remarkable shift for America’s oil and gas heartland, Texas has emerged as the nation’s clean energy powerhouse, with solar farms and battery storage facilities driving virtually all new electricity capacity added to the state’s grid in 2025. The Lone Star State installed nearly twice as much new solar power as California, traditionally considered the leader in renewable energy development.

The expansion included more than 5,200 megawatts of new battery storage capacity, translating to approximately 10,500 megawatt hours of energy storage capability. This massive buildout represents the largest share of capacity additions to the Texas grid, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The surge in storage technology addresses one of renewable energy’s biggest challenges – storing power generated during peak production times for use when the sun isn’t shining or demand spikes.

This transformation is particularly striking given Texas’s historic identity as the epicenter of America’s fossil fuel industry. The state’s embrace of renewables reflects both economic opportunity and practical necessity, as solar and battery costs have plummeted while extreme weather events have highlighted the need for grid resilience. The rapid deployment of clean energy infrastructure positions Texas at the forefront of the nation’s energy transition, demonstrating that renewable energy growth can thrive even in traditionally fossil fuel-dependent regions.

The trend signals a broader shift in America’s energy landscape, where market forces increasingly favor clean technologies over conventional power sources.