In the first quarter of 2023, the industry installed 4,079 MW of utility-scale clean power capacity, enough to power nearly 904,000 American homes. First quarter installations fell below recent levels, down 36% compared to the first quarter of 2022, according to the Q1 2023 Clean Power Quarterly Market Report. This is the lowest first quarter the industry has experienced since 2020. All three technologies experienced significant declines compared to the first quarter of 2022. Wind installations decreased by 50%, battery storage by 32%, and solar by 23%.

First quarter installs were low in part due to the challenges that continue to delay clean power project timelines. Solar is the most delayed technology. Seesawing regulations due to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) ongoing anticircumvention investigation delayed or forced changes to solar module delivery plans. Furthermore, long release timelines for modules detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) further pushed back delivery timelines for some major solar projects, too.

Despite a fall in quarterly installations, the pipeline continues to grow. The 138,808 MW in the pipeline represents an 11% increase from Q1 2022, and a 62% increase from Q1 2021. Solar continues to be the leading technology in the pipeline, accounting for 59% of all clean power capacity in development. Land-based wind accounts for 15% of the pipeline, battery storage represents 14%, and offshore wind claims the remaining 13%.

Our Clean Power Quarterly provides a snapshot view of the latest U.S. utility wind, solar, and battery storage industry activity and trends. The report includes first quarter installations, projects under construction and in advanced development, new power purchase agreements, OEM market share, project acquisition activity, offshore wind energy activity, and much, much more.

Read the Report

• Full Report: The full report is available to ACP members only.
  • Not a member? Join now.
• Public Report: The free public version of the report, which provides a summary of key takeaways and graphics from the full report, is available for download below.
• Appendices: Interested in the data behind the report? Members can download the appendices here and check out the underlying data in spreadsheet form here.
• Press Release: Read our press release for more.

Webinar: Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q1 2023

Join ACP experts at a live webinar to dive deeper into comprehensive research on U.S. clean energy markets, deployments, policies, regulations, and financing found in both Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q1 2023 and the Clean Power Annual Market Report | 2022.

This members-only webinar helps you dissect exclusive market data found in the reports and breaks down what these trends mean for your business moving forward. It will take place on June 13, 2023. Stay tuned for more details.

Visit the interactive website for data highlights from the report.

The clean power industry commissioned over 25.5 GW of new clean power in 2022—a decline of 15% compared to the record-breaking year of 2021. While short of expectations, the industry did capture the majority of the market clean power projects, representing an impressive nearly 80% of all new capacity.

2022 brought the challenges and growth potential facing the clean power industry into stark relief. President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law on August 16. This unprecedented national commitment to clean power is the largest policy investment in clean energy on record. The IRA is set to catalyze clean energy growth, ultimately more than tripling annual installations of wind, solar, and battery storage by the end of the decade.

However, despite the positive prospects, the clean power industry faced a string of obstacles in 2022. Supply chain constraints, lengthy delays connecting projects to the grid, unclear trade restrictions, longstanding permitting obstacles, and uncertainty over IRA implementation hindered project development and investment activity.

ACP’s Clean Power Annual Market Report 2022 is a nearly 200-page comprehensive overview of key industry statistics, trends, and rankings from 2022.

Read the Report

• Full Report: The full report is available to ACP members only.
  • Not a member? Join now.
• Public Report: The free public version of the report, providing a summary of key takeaways and graphics from the full report, is available for download below.
• Data Takeaways: Visit our new interactive, data-driven website that details the 2022 year-in-review highlights.
• Press Release: Read our press release for more.

Webinar: Clean Power Market Reports (June 13)

Join ACP experts at a live webinar to dive deeper into comprehensive research on U.S. clean energy markets, deployments, policies, regulations, and financing found in both Clean Power Quarterly Market Report Q1 2023 and the Clean Power Annual Market Report 2022.

This members-only webinar helps you dissect exclusive market data found in the reports and breaks down what these trends mean for your business moving forward. It will take place on June 13, 2023. Stay tuned for more details.

The ACP Entry-Level Wind Technician Guidelines will aim to ensure a comprehensive understanding of entry-level requirements for operations and maintenance wind technicians for onshore and offshore wind facilities. The guidelines will help:

• Alleviate the continued pressure on costs and resources
• Reduce bottlenecks in training
• Provide a stable, competent entry level workforce
• Reduce recruitment constraints by knowledgeable entry-level technicians ready for company qualifications and experience
• Decrease training duplication
• Reduce the pressure on recruitment and training
• Prove useful for both construction and maintenance technicians

Comment Period

We are currently inviting industry professionals to provide comments on these draft guidelines, which are available for ACP members only.

Please fill out the form below for access to the draft guidelines, and find instructions on providing public comments here. Simply download the file, fill it out, and send it back.

Deadline for comments is Saturday July 22, 2023.

If you are a non-member who would like to review the draft guidelines, please email workforcedev@cleanpower.org.

The testimony includes a Discussion Framework designed to make the process of planning, siting, permitting, and cost allocation for high-impact power lines more efficient, fair, and conducive to increased deployment of clean energy.

This framework proposes creating National Interest Transmission Electric Corridors (NIETC) for high-impact transmission lines, speeding up the permitting process for these lines, and revising the planning and cost allocation process for interregional facilities.

Key Components of the Framework include:

• Designation of High-Impact Facilities in the National Interest: The framework proposes an applicant-driven process where transmission developers can apply to the Department of Energy (DOE) to have their high-impact transmission lines designated as NIETC. The criteria for this designation take into account economic, energy security, national defense, and environmental factors. High-impact lines must have a transmission capacity of not less than 750 megawatts, be capable of transmitting electricity at a voltage of not less than 345 kilovolts, and cross at least two states or one state and the outer continental shelf.
• Expediting Existing Siting & Permitting Authority for High-Impact Facilities in the National Interest: The framework proposes speeding up the permitting process for these high-impact lines. This involves a simultaneous review process by states and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and an improved environmental review process. There’s also a focus on community engagement and potential funding mechanisms to offset the impact on affected communities.
• Fixing the Existing Interregional Planning and Cost Allocation Process: The framework calls for FERC to issue a rulemaking on interregional planning and cost allocation within 180 days and finalize the rule no later than one year. It proposes a formal procedure for the identification and joint evaluation of interregional facilities and sets out planning requirements to ensure consistency, coordination, and accounting for full electricity system benefits. It also proposes a cost allocation methodology that ensures costs are roughly commensurate with overall benefits and no costs are allocated to those who receive no benefits.

In essence, the testimony and the framework argue for a pragmatic, bipartisan approach to improving the regulatory environment to help the U.S. transition to a clean energy future.

ACP is proud to share our Annual Report (2022), detailing the growth of our trade association and our industry.

2022 was not without its challenges — from moments where generational clean energy legislation seemed to slip through our fingers to trade and import policies that severely blunted the industry’s growth. However, moments like these are exactly why ACP was created.

After just two years, it’s clear: Together with our growing membership, ACP has had a tremendous impact on behalf of our industry. Just as the path looked impossible, the groundwork laid over two years paid off with the biggest ever victory for our industry:

• The largest clean energy bill in U.S. history was signed into law in August 2022.
  • The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will provide the stability and predictability that our members have needed to build America’s clean energy future.
  • Across our industry, the IRA is expected to deliver an estimated 525 to 550 gigawatts of new, utility-scale clean power between 2022–2030 — driving an estimated 40% reduction in emissions, creating 550,000 new clean energy jobs, and supporting a direct workforce of nearly one million Americans.
• In the midst of an electric year, ACP grew membership to over 750 member companies, returned to in-person events (breaking revenue and attendance records), and hired expert staff to further support the organization’s advocacy across all fronts.

From our advocacy at the federal and state level, to hosting conferences attended by over 11,000 people, to the industry insights provided to our members across our many research tools, we are deeply grateful to support the industry through the work we do. Thank you for being a part of that.

Overview

The American Clean Power Association (ACP)’s U.S. Offshore Wind Market Report reveals a rapidly growing pipeline of projects across 32 leases, totaling 51,377 MW of expected capacity. These developments will provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 20 million homes. Although the U.S. currently lags behind China and the U.K. in terms of installed offshore wind capacity, the increasing number of projects in development signals significant progress in a sector poised to play a critical role in creating an energy system powered by clean energy.

Offshore wind project development, construction and operations are expected to support up to 83,000 American jobs by 2030, with industry investment set up to deliver $25 billion per year in economic output.

The Offshore Wind Market Report underscores the crucial role that states are playing in driving U.S. offshore wind procurement. East coast states, like New York and New Jersey, have set procurement targets totaling over 51,000 MW. In total, ten states have combined offshore wind targets of over 81,000 MW.

The new report emphasizes the economic impact of offshore wind on domestic shipbuilding, with more than 30 new vessels currently on order or under construction to support the industry. Key takeaways include upcoming offshore wind projects in the pipeline, locations of announced manufacturing facilities, and more. For more information, read our Press Release, “U.S. Offshore Wind Market Report Expands Rapidly With 51,377 MW Projected Capacity.”

ACP Member Webinars

As the premier organization representing the interests of America’s clean energy industries, we are always seeking ways to add value and offer new perspectives. ACP webinars have been designed to equip clean energy professionals from diverse geographical locations with the ability to connect and collaborate, elevating our industry. ACP webinars deliver breaking news updates covering policy, education and the business of clean energy. Participate in informative sessions as they occur and never miss another essential industry report. Check out our webinars by visiting the member portal.

Key takeaways:

• Rapid investment surge: Clean energy investments hit $150 billion in announcements, equivalent to five years’ worth of American clean energy investments and surpassing the total investment in U.S. clean power projects commissioned between 2017-2021.
• Manufacturing growth and job creation: 47 new utility-scale clean energy manufacturing facilities were announce, which will create 18,000+ jobs, transforming U.S. manufacturing.
• Policy support critical for continued progress: ACP urges permitting reform to realize clean energy potential from recent announcements, with the sector working to support 1 million jobs by 2050.

As of March 31, 2023, over $150 billion in capital investment has been announced for utility-scale clean energy projects and manufacturing facilities since federal incentives were signed into law last August. This is equivalent to five years’ worth of American clean energy investment, surpassing total investment into U.S. clean power projects commissioned between 2017 – 2021.

The new Clean Energy Investing in America report details several other landmark achievements for the industry, including announcements of 47 new or expanded utility-scale clean energy manufacturing facilities, bringing with them an expected 18,000 new American jobs.

Alongside announcements of massive investment, the report details announcements of over $4.4 billion in savings for over 24 million utility customers.

Visit the interactive website, and download the new report below.  

ACP urges Congress to oppose the Auxin CRA.

Key Takeaways: