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U.S. Exceeds 6 Million Solar Installations Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States added 7.8 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing 6 million cumulative installations as solar remained the leading source of new power added to the grid. Despite changing tax policy and regulatory actions targeting clean energy, solar and energy storage represented 91% of new capacity installed in Q1 as utilities, homeowners and businesses seek energy security amid global gas and gas turbine supply disruptions.
The U.S. Solar Market Insight 2026 Q2 Report released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie finds that contracts for utility-scale solar rose 15% year over year, fueled by tech companies securing power to meet growing AI-driven electricity demand.
The report’s industry-wide forecast was revised upward as electricity demand continues to surge. Amid rising geopolitical instability, solar and storage strengthen American energy security because they can be deployed quickly and operate without exposure to fuel price volatility.
