The USA installed 593MW of new wind capacity in the second quarter of 2025, a 60% decrease compared with the same period in 2024, according to the US Wind Energy Monitor published by Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association (ACP). Despite the slowdown, installations over the first nine months of 2025 are projected to exceed 2024 levels, reaching 3.8GW. Total annual installations are expected to reach 7.7GW, with more than half of that capacity scheduled to come online in the final quarter of the year.
The onshore wind market outlook has improved by 3.6%, or 2.4GW, compared with the previous quarter, as developers aim to complete projects before the expiration of federal tax credits. However, turbine orders remained subdued in the first half of 2025 due to ongoing policy uncertainty. Treasury guidance confirming eligibility rules for tax credits has provided a short-term boost of around 7% to near-term installations, but new tariff investigations are creating potential supply chain risks. The Department of Commerce’s national security review could raise project costs by up to one-third, affecting installations later in the decade.
Western states are expected to lead new capacity additions through 2029, accounting for about 31% of installations, followed by the Midwest. Illinois is forecast to overtake Texas in 2027, adding more than 1.8GW of new capacity.
Offshore wind growth is projected to reach 5.9GW by 2029, with most activity concentrated in 2026 and 2027. Wood Mackenzie noted that recent federal stop-work orders and regulatory uncertainty have disrupted offshore development and weakened offtake opportunities, although around 70% of forecasted capacity is already under construction.
Across all segments – onshore, offshore, and repowering – annual installations are expected to average 9.1GW over the next five years. By the end of 2029, total installed capacity in the USA is projected to reach 196.5GW, including 35.5GW from new onshore projects, 6GW from offshore wind, and 4.5GW from repowering. A peak year is expected in 2027, when installations could reach 12.3GW.
