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The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved Southwestern Public Service’s plan to close the Tolk coal plant in early 2029 and replace it with projects including 1,100 megawatts of wind power, 322 megawatts of battery storage and 189 megawatts of solar power. Sierra Club says the decision could conserve substantial amounts of Ogallala Basin groundwater and reduce the plant’s emissions, while approval of two peaking gas plants remains in place with cost restrictions.
The United States added 20.2 gigawatt-hours of battery storage capacity in the second quarter of 2026, driven primarily by utility-scale storage projects. Market forecasts through 2030 increased, while additions of residential batteries declined because of changes to federal incentives.
The article draws on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to present the accelerating growth of solar power, electricity storage, and wind energy in recent years, despite federal policies supporting fossil fuels. Electricity generation from renewable sources grew 10.9% year over year in the first half of 2026.