United States solar capacity nears 300 GW milestone

The United States' solar energy capacity is approaching the 300 GW milestone, reaching 299.4 GWdc across more than 6.2 million installations. According to reports from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, this capacity is sufficient to power the equivalent of over 50 million American households.

In the second quarter of 2026, the U.S. installed 11.4 GWdc of new solar capacity, representing a 45% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Utility-scale projects were the primary driver of this growth, adding 9.6 GWdc to the grid, a 61% increase year-over-year. Solar and energy storage systems accounted for 70% of all new power generation capacity added to the U.S. grid during the first half of the year.

Solar energy now accounts for approximately 9% of total electricity generation in the U.S., a nearly sevenfold increase over the last decade. The industry supports more than 280,000 workers across 10,000 companies, with private investment in the sector reaching $69.1 billion in 2025.