WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report on the energy investment landscape shows the clean energy market surged in 2025, and investment in clean energy projects is likely to reach a record high in 2026. Continued policy uncertainty and other factors could diminish investor interest in clean energy projects after this year.

The report, Clean Energy Investment Trends, was prepared for ACORE by S&P Global Energy’s consulting arm CERA Consulting. Other key takeaways from the report include:

• Investment in renewable projects in 2026 could surpass 2025 investment as developers race to meet demand growth and claim expiring wind and solar tax credits.

• M&A surged in 2025—especially in natural gas-fired generation—as AI raced to secure power sources. Q1 2025 M&A exceeded total M&A activity in 2024.

• Canadian and European firms drove investment in and acquisitions of U.S. renewable capacity.

• Emissions-free power featured in many large transactions in 2025, and private equity has been actively acquiring clean power sources, including nuclear.

“The clean energy market is primed to deliver the energy security, affordability, and reliability that American energy consumers expect and deserve,” said ACORE President and CEO Ray Long. “Developers are building projects and financial firms are investing despite current policy uncertainty, but if we don’t deliver stable tax, trade, and permitting policy, it could chill investor interest, jeopardize domestic industry growth, and threaten our energy independence.”

“Investments in US renewable electricity projects continued to increase in 2025 as power-demand expectations accelerate,” said Hill Vaden, Executive Director at S&P Global Energy, of the report findings. “Capital markets remain broadly supportive of clean energy projects in 2026 as developers rush to beat start-of-work deadlines; existing platforms embrace consolidation opportunities; and clean-firm innovators seek public market listings.”

ACORE is sharing the full report with its members. The report’s executive summary is available to the public on the ACORE website.

“This report is a continuation of the work that has made ACORE the leading clean energy think tank over the past 25 years,” Long said. “It will inform our members and the public about clean energy and the policies and market forces shaping the sector.”

ACORE will publish a follow-on report at its annual Finance Forum in May based on its annual investment surveys, showing how capital providers and developers view the U.S. clean energy investment landscape in the near and mid term.  

Learn more about becoming an ACORE member here.

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About ACORE:
ACORE is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that operates at the intersection of affordability, reliability, and clean energy deployment. Our work is focused on stabilizing energy prices, strengthening the electric grid, and driving investment in cost-effective technologies to ensure that clean energy delivers for people, businesses, and the U.S. economy.

ACORE’s membership includes clean energy investors, developers, energy buyers, power generators, manufacturers, and energy providers. In 2024, nearly 80% of the booming utility-scale domestic clean energy growth was financed, developed, owned, equipped, or contracted by ACORE members.

Media Contacts:

Chris Higginbotham
higginbotham@acore.org

Sophie Stover
communications@acore.org

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https://acore.org/news/press-release-new-report-highlights-clean-energy-investment-trends-amid-policy-uncertainty/