Renewables will account for a substantial majority of the new U.S. utility-scale electric generating capacity planned to start commercial operation this year, with natural gas coming in a distant third behind solar and wind, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Electricity Capacity

Developers and power plant owners plan to add 6.6 GW of natural gas-fired capacity in 2021, including 3.9 GW from combined-cycle generators and 2.6 GW from combustion turbine generators, EIA said, citing its latest inventory of electricity generators. More than 70% of this new natural gas capacity will be located in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the agency said.

Natural gas accounts for 16% of the total 39.7 GW of capacity additions planned this year. At 15.4 GW, solar is expected to make...