Solar’s growth in US almost enough to offset rising energy use

Concerns regarding the US electrical grid's capacity to meet the escalating demands of data centers have been a focal point throughout 2025. Early in the year, electricity demand spiked nearly 5 percent compared to the previous year, raising alarms about a potential crisis within the grid. This surge had an unfortunate consequence: for the first time in recent years, coal consumption increased as well. However, subsequent data releases reveal a shift in this trend. According to the latest figures from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which reflect the first nine months of 2025, total electricity demand has increased by a more moderate 2.3 percent. This decrease in the rate of demand growth suggests that much of the need could be addressed by the impressive expansion of solar energy. In the initial quarter of 2025, the demand for electricity had risen sharply by 4.8 percent year-over-year. Despite solar energy experiencing a remarkable growth of 44 percent during this time, it only managed to fulfill about one-third of the demand increase, leading to a 23 percent rise in coal usage due to a decline in natural gas consumption. Fast forward six months, and the landscape has changed significantly. Although electricity demand continues to climb, it is doing so at a much more controlled pace of 2.3 percent. Depending on seasonal weather impacts on heating needs, this figure could decrease further by year-end. Meanwhile, solar energy has maintained its upward trajectory, growing by 36 percent compared to last year. This impressive growth now offsets over 80 percent of the increased electrical demand, signaling a potential turning point where solar could completely balance out significant demand increases in the near future.