Delivered quarterly, the Wind Energy Monitor from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables provides the clean power industry with exclusive insights through comprehensive research. This Q4 2025 release includes Q3 2025 in review, plus a 5-year look-ahead outlining expected capacity buildout, costs, supply chain, policy, and investment.
The USA power market is under increasing pressure after more than a decade of largely flat electricity demand. Utilities have announced plans for around 160 GW of large-load additions, a development expected to push up power prices and improve the economic position of wind generation. At the same time, higher turbine costs linked to tariffs, alongside ongoing permitting and policy uncertainty, are likely to influence how much wind capacity can be delivered during this period of demand growth.
The near-term project pipeline remains broadly stable quarter on quarter. Turbine order intake in the USA has recovered to levels seen before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, supported by around 2 GW of firm commitments in the third quarter. However, overall visibility remains limited. Original equipment manufacturers are increasingly withholding detailed project information, and a significant share of qualifying start-of-construction activity is taking place through off-site component manufacturing. Continued uncertainty around tariffs is also slowing procurement decisions.
Momentum in offshore wind is mixed. Projects targeting commercial operation dates in 2026 continue to reach key milestones, while developments planned for after 2027 face a higher risk of delay. Constraints in wind turbine installation vessel availability are contributing to schedule pressure, contract renegotiations and, in some cases, cancellations.
Rising costs are affecting project economics across the sector. Ørsted has completed a rights issue to strengthen its balance sheet, and both Ørsted and Equinor have reported impairments linked to tariff impacts and a more challenging policy environment.
Overall, the USA is expected to add around 46 GW of new wind capacity between 2025 and 2029. Annual installations are forecast to exceed 7 GW in 2025, rise to almost 11 GW in 2026 and peak at 12.7 GW in 2027, before declining to 8.9 GW in 2028 and about 6 GW in 2029.
