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EIA Estimates Record U.S. Electric Generating Capacity Additions in 2026, with Solar in the Lead

LCG, February 20, 2026--The EIA today issued an "in-brief analysis" that estimates U.S. power plant developers and operators plan to complete a record installation of 86 GW of new, utility-scale electric generating capacity that is connected to the U.S. power grid in 2026. Last year, 53 GW of new capacity was added to the grid, which was the largest capacity installation in a single year since 2002. Thus the estimate of 86 GW of new capacity in 2026 is a whopping 33 GW greater than the year prior. It should be noted that over 20 GW of the 86 GW of new capacity this year is estimated to be completed in December.

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Enhanced Geothermal Systems May Drive Significant Growth in Geothermal Power Generation

LCG, February 19, 2026--The EIA released an "in-brief analysis" today regarding the expected completion of the first, large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) in June 2026, and the significant growth potential for year-round, 24x7, carbon-free, renewable EGS power generation in the United States.

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Industry News

Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard

LCG, September 22, 2010--Senators Bingaman (New Mexico) and Brownback (Kansas) yesterday announced plans to reintroduce a bill to create a federal renewable electricity standard (RES). The legislation is alleged to increase our energy security, enhance the reliability of the electricity grid by creating more homegrown renewable energy, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The stand-alone, 43-page RES bill is almost identical to the RES included in the American Clean Energy Leadership Act, S. 1462, according to Senator Bingaman. The bill requires electricity suppliers to ratchet up the percent of renewable energy supplies (or energy efficiency improvements) from 3 percent in 2012 to 15 percent in 2021. The bill is designed not to affect state programs.

Like prior the proposal, the bill includes (i) an exemption for utilities selling less than 4 million megawatt hours per year of electricity and (ii) the option to pay alternative compliance payments to the Secretary at a rate of 2.1 cents per kWh.

Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, ocean, geothermal, landfill gas, incremental hydropower, hydrokinetic, and new hydropower at existing dams, an expanded waste-to-energy definition that includes municipal wastes, and biomass.

Although biomass is included as a renewable resource, the bill does nothing to address the carbon neutrality of biomass, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called into question with its proposed Tailoring Rule that does not treat biomass as carbon neutral. Without carbon neutrality, biomass development will likely be limited, and it will not become the primary, non-hydro source of renewables, as forecast this year in the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook.

Senator Bingaman states, "I think that the votes are present in the Senate to pass a renewable electricity standard. I think that they are present in the House. I think that we need to get on with figuring out what we can pass and move forward."
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