Proactive steps you can take now for 2025 and beyond

Speed to Market is Imperative

Demand in the power sector today is unlike anything we’ve seen in the past. New projections indicate that power demand growth over the next 20 years will be approximately 6x higher than in the previous two decades, a number that is largely attributed to data center growth but also industrial and manufacturing expansion and electrification across the U.S. economy. Meeting this demand will require an all forms of energy approach, including renewables, storage, natural gas and nuclear energy, however there is a critical timing difference in terms of when these generation solutions can be brought to market.

Given natural gas and nuclear projects launched are not projected to be scalable until 2030 or later, the U.S. needs power today and renewables and battery energy storage are available to meet that demand now. Due to this, and their comparatively low cost, renewables are expected to triple in the next three years. Projections show that there will be an increase from 140 GW over the last 7 years to 375-450 GW over the next 7 years.

We Cannot Ignore Affordability

We must consider how today’s investment decisions influence the costs their customers will come to bear for the next 30 years and what implications higher utility bills may have on future investments. For instance, facing an electricity affordability crisis, commissions may restrict future investments in much needed capacity and generation at a critical time. Renewables can provide the generation needed to meet demand at the lowest cost possible now, making them an essential near-term solution for avoiding a power affordability crisis across the U.S. However, we know that all forms of energy, including natural gas, are going to be essential for us to restore American energy dominance and continue growth and innovation.

Adopting a Systems-Level and All Forms of Energy Approach

Meeting near- and long-term demand and capacity needs at the lowest cost possible will require “all of the above” energy solutions that include renewables, battery energy storage, natural gas and nuclear energy, with cooperation from stakeholders across the board. Renewables and battery energy storage are ready now to tackle demand and help lower power prices, then as we move towards the next decade, these resources can be supplemented with natural gas-fired generation and nuclear. Local utilities, ISOs, regulators and renewables developers will need to think differently about how they produce, deliver and consume electricity, and unlocking capacity on an accelerated basis will require both collective solutions and creativity. Increasingly, utilities, developers and commercial and industrial businesses will find the need to collaborate to develop solutions that unlock capacity when and where it is needed.

An All Forms of Energy Company

CERAWeek 2025 highlighted the importance of diverse, timely, reliable and affordable energy solutions to meet the surging power demand. As one of America’s largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., and the 7th largest nuclear operator globally, NextEra Energy, the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, stands out in the energy sector. NextEra Energy is a top five investor in America’s energy infrastructure, with plans to invest an additional $120 billion over the next four years, making us uniquely positioned to address growing energy demands with customized solutions.