Solar and storage made up a huge 91% of all new power capacity added to the US grid in Q1 2026, according to a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.
The US added 7.8 gigawatts of new solar capacity in Q1 alone, pushing the country past 6 million total solar installations. Solar stayed the top source of new electricity generation, even as the clean energy industry faces growing political and regulatory pressure in Washington.
The report says utilities, businesses, and homeowners are continuing to turn to solar and battery storage as electricity demand climbs and gas supply issues create uncertainty. Solar contracts for large utility-scale projects jumped 15% year over year, driven in part by tech companies racing to secure enough electricity for AI data centers.
SEIA and Wood Mackenzie also raised their industry forecast as US electricity demand keeps rising. Solar and storage can be deployed relatively quickly and aren’t exposed to fuel price swings, making them increasingly attractive as utilities look for fast ways to add power to the grid.
Texas remained the country’s fastest-growing solar market in the quarter, while Ohio climbed into the top three states for new solar deployment. Michigan, Oregon, and Mississippi also posted strong growth.
