US electricity demand is projected to surge 39 percent by 2035, driven by data centers and electrification, according to consultancy ICF. Solar and wind remain the fastest, cheapest energy sources to deploy, with lead times under two years versus at least three for gas, per think-tank RMI. Lazard data shows solar and wind break-even costs at $38 and $37 per megawatt-hour, compared to $48 for gas, though system upgrades and storage add costs. Bloomberg NEF's Ethan Zindler notes developers are thriving as data centers need power "basically yesterday."

Extreme weather and the Iran war are accelerating consumer adoption. Rhodium Group reports clean energy spending jumped 45 percent quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026. Director Hannah Hess cites Florida homeowners installing batteries for hurricane resilience and rising EV purchases due to higher fuel prices.

Courts have blocked all five administration attempts to halt East Coast offshore wind projects, and an Oregon judge ordered the Pentagon to stop blocking onshore wind. CEO Cliff Graham of Avantus says the administration is "pretty pragmatic" on permits, noting vast lands between Reno, Tucson, and Barstow are ideal for solar-plus-storage.