Exclusive: Clean energy deals on track for "biggest year ever"
TL;DR
U. S. corporations contracted 13.4 gigawatts of clean energy in Q1 2026 alone — more than during all of 2021 — driven by the AI boom and a race to lock in expiring tax credits. The data comes from the Corporate Energy Buyers Association's annual report.
Nauti's Take
Encouraging step forward for the energy transition: 13.4 gigawatts of corporate clean-energy contracts in Q1 2026 alone show demand stays robust even with reduced federal support. The challenge underneath: a big part of the surge is the energy hunger of AI data centers, which does not automatically clean up the grid if demand outpaces buildout.
AI operators and energy buyers are wise to lock in direct contracts with hard sustainability criteria early.
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