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In an era of rising energy demand, a diverse, reliable energy mix is essential听for听keeping听the听lights on听across America. Utility-scale solar has been a driving force in the expansion of听new resources听to strengthen听our nation鈥檚听grid听and deliver听enough energy to power at least 34 million American homes.听

ACP鈥檚 newly released听Market Pulse: Utility-Scale Solar Summer 2026听report听dives into the current state of solar: how听it鈥檚听powering the present, increasing energy capacity for the future,听and听strengthening听the American workforce.听听

听Powering the听Present听

Utility-scale solar has grown at a record-breaking pace in recent years. Since 2020, annual installations have surpassed 10 GW/year, with more than 20 GW听added听annually since 2023. Cumulative operational capacity for utility-scale solar听has听more than tripled from 48 GW in 2020 to 161 GW at the end of Q1 2026.听听

This growth in capacity听translates to听real increases in听electricity听delivered to the U.S. grid. Just 10 years ago, solar accounted for less than 1% of total U.S. electricity. As of Q1 2026, utility-scale solar generated 6.8% of total electricity in the U.S. over the past year. When behind-the-meter solar resources are included, solar generated 8.9%.听

The rapid growth of听solar听is听a听nationwide trend. Forty-one of the听50听U.S. states have at least doubled their operational solar portfolios听between听2020听and听Q1 2026;听and听within those听states,听20听have grown听their听solar capacity by more than听five times.听

No matter how you slice it, solar听is听instrumental听to听the power sector鈥檚 ability to keep pace with rising听energy听demand, and solar will continue to be a key part of the story as demand听grows.听

Powering the听Future听

ACP鈥檚 in-house energy outlook forecasts 300 GW of operational solar capacity in the U.S. by 2030, nearly doubling the current operational portfolio in only five years.听听

Solar has already听outpaced听other energy technologies听in听capacity additions. In 2025, utility-scale solar additions made up听nearly 50%听of all energy installs,听surpassing听natural gas, wind, storage, nuclear, coal, and other technologies. Through 2030, ACP鈥檚 forecast shows solar accounting for more than 40% of new energy additions, even as gas-fired generation additions accelerate.听

In the near-term, ACP鈥檚听research听team is tracking 103 GW of capacity in the solar pipeline, which includes projects that are under construction or in advanced development. The solar pipeline听exceeded听100 GW for the first time at the end of 2025 and accounts for 53% of the total clean energy pipeline. Although battery storage projects are hitting their own deployment boom, solar will听likely continue听to be the leading clean energy technology听in the near-term.听听

Powering the听American听Workforce听

The continued strong buildout of solar power capacity not only helps keep the lights on amid growing electricity demand but also bolsters job creation, investment in rural communities, and economic growth.听

The solar industry supports 703,000 jobs across direct, indirect, and induced positions. For every one job directly employed in solar, an听additional听two jobs are supported downstream.听听

In addition to job creation, solar workers earn a higher average wage than the mean wage of all private industries and government workers, and the solar industry employs U.S. veterans at a higher rate听(8%)听than the national average听(5%).听American workers are听integral to developing, building, and听maintaining听solar听projects听across听the nation.听听

Beyond direct employment in the solar workforce, operational utility-scale solar capacity has听also听stimulated听nearly听$350 billion听in investment. At听the听community level, solar projects have contributed over听$1.8 billion听in state and local taxes and land-lease payments over the past year alone.听听

Looking ahead, the solar projects in development听today听are slated to bring even more value and local benefits to communities in every state听tomorrow.听听

To learn more about how solar is听delivering听power to Americans, check out听the听first edition of听ACP鈥檚 Market Pulse: Utility-Scale Solar.