The United States has exceeded 5 million solar installations, including businesses, homes, and large ground-mounted arrays across the country. While the milestone of 1 million installations reached in 2016 took 40 years to achieve, this new landmark took only eight additional years, as installations increased by five times during this period.
The United States has exceeded 5 million solar installations including businesses, homes, and large ground-mounted arrays across the country. While the milestone of 1 million installations reached in 2016 took 40 years to achieve, this new landmark took only eight additional years, as installations increased by five times during this period.
More than half of all U.S. solar installations have come online since the start of 2020, and over 25% have come online since the Inflation Reduction Act passed in August 2022, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.
“Solar is scaling by the millions because it consistently delivers on its promise to lower electricity costs, boost community resilience, and create economic opportunities,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “Today 7% of homes in America have solar, and this number will grow to over 15% of U.S. homes by 2030. Solar is quickly becoming the dominant source of electricity on the grid, allowing communities to breathe cleaner air and lead healthier lives.”
SEIA forecasts that solar installations in the U.S. will double to 10 million by 2030 and triple to 15 million by 2034. California leads the nation with 2 million solar installations. A total of 11 states and territories have over 100,000 systems installed; this figure is expected to grow to 22 states by 2030.
The residential sector accounts for 97 percent of these solar installations. This sector has set annual installation records for five consecutive years and 10 of the last 12 years. SEIA attributes this growth to homeowners looking to take control of their energy costs with this proven investment.
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