The U.S. invested a record $338 billion in energy transition in 2024, led by solar power, which accounted for 49 gigawatts of new capacity. However, overall carbon emissions rose by 0.5% due to increased natural gas demand, primarily from industrial users and power plants. Despite progress, including a 16% drop in emissions since 2005, significant electricity demand growth is forecasted, driven largely by tech investments in data centers. The usage of different energy technologies will be crucial for the U.S.’s climate impact moving forward.
The U.S. invested $338 billion in energy transition in 2024, but carbon emissions still increased slightly, highlighting challenges in fully decarbonizing the economy.
Solar power emerged as the dominant renewable source, adding 49 gigawatts of capacity, now comprising nearly a quarter of the U.S. electricity demand.
Tech companies are a major driver of electricity demand growth, with investments in data centers fueling projections of a 15.8% increase in electricity use by 2029.
Despite a decline in carbon emissions since 2005, the rise in natural gas demand has contributed to a slight uptick in overall emissions.
Collection
[
|
...
]