Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO)

New Solar Plants Expected to Support Most U.S. Electric Generation Growth

In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect that U.S. renewable capacity additions—especially solar—will continue to drive the growth of U.S. power generation over the next two years. We expect U.S. utilities and independent power producers will add 26 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity to the U.S. electric power sector in … [continued]

EIA Expects U.S. Annual Solar Electricity Generation To Surpass Hydropower in 2024

We forecast that the United States will generate 14% more electricity from solar energy than from hydroelectric facilities in 2024, according to our Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Our forecast is driven by continued growth in new utility-scale and small-scale solar facilities. For the first time in September 2022, the United States had … [continued]

Mixed Water Supply Conditions in the Northwest Affect 2022 Hydropower Outlook

On February 3, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) released its latest water supply forecast for the 2022 water year, which runs from October 2021 through September 2022. The NWRFC forecasts below-normal water supply in the southern areas of the Columbia River Basin and near-normal water supply … [continued]