# Energy Sector News for May 31, 2025
## Renewable Energy Growth
The U.S. power grid is expected to add a record 63 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity in 2025, representing an almost 30% increase from 2024[6]. Solar and battery storage account for 81% of the expected total capacity additions, with solar making up over 50% of the increase[6]. Texas (11.6 GW) and California (2.9 GW) will account for almost half of the new utility-scale solar capacity addition in 2025, while five other states (Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and New York) are each expected to add more than 1 GW of solar capacity[6].
## Energy Storage Developments
U.S. solar and energy storage are set for major growth in 2025, with developers planning to add 63 GW of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity to the power grid[5]. The growth of solar is being driven by falling prices of solar panels, government tax credits and incentives, and increasing demand for clean electricity from businesses and households[5]. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. solar market grew by 51% in 2023, and similar strong growth is expected in 2025[5].
## Natural Gas Expansion
Developers plan to build 4.4 GW of new natural gas-fired capacity in the United States during 2025, with 50% coming from simple-cycle combustion turbines and 36% from combined-cycle power blocks[6]. Utah, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Tennessee account for more than 70% of these planned natural gas additions[6]. The two largest natural gas plants expected to come online in 2025 are the 840-MW Intermountain Power Project in Utah and the 678.7-MW Magnolia Power in Louisiana, with the Intermountain project replacing 1,800 MW of coal-fired capacity scheduled to be retired in July[6].
## International Renewable Developments
Southeast Asia is set to deploy a host of new renewable energy projects in 2025, including a 250-megawatt floating solar array in the Philippines[8]. Global renewable energy player Acen is on track to deliver over 1.2 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity next year, including a 520-megawatt solar park in New South Wales, Australia, and the 146-megawatt Monsoon Wind project in Laos[8]. Countries in the APAC region are expected to deploy a total of 23 gigawatts of new clean power capacity next year[8].
## Energy Transition Events
The California Energy Transition Summit took place in Sacramento on May 6-7, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders in the state’s energy sector[1]. Additionally, Enverus’ flagship energy conference, EVOLVE 2025, was held May 12-15 in Houston, gathering leaders from traditional energy, power and renewables sectors[2]. These events highlight the ongoing transition in the energy industry and provide platforms for discussing future developments and challenges.
## Permitting and Interconnection Reforms
2025 is expected to be a year of accelerating innovation in power and renewables, with a focus on addressing permitting and interconnection processes that have been major bottlenecks to faster renewables growth[7]. The reforms started by FERC in 2023 will begin to have an impact, with at least one independent system operator, Midcontinent, rolling out