Solar energy has become the #1 source of new electricity generation capacity in the United States in recent years, like in other markets around the world. Solar energy is just cheaper, more resilient, quicker to build, and good for energy independence and energy security. But what solar facts do you know in order to impress during a summer rooftop party by the pool? (CleanTechnica is famous for its rooftop pool chatter, but I have to say that Steve Hanley is fabricating those fancy headquarters stories and dreams. We have no such rooftop pool. But it sure sounds nice.)
These solar facts are courtesy of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which may be fancy enough to have a rooftop pool — but, of course, the organization must have solar panels on its roof! Anyway, on to the solar facts:
- There are now 279,447 solar jobs in the United States.
- There are now more than 10,000 solar businesses in the USA.
- 41 states are currently home to a solar or battery factory.
- A new solar power project was installed every 54 seconds on average in 2024.
- 81.5% of all new US power capacity in 2024 came from solar power (84% came from solar power and batteries).
- 69% of all new US power capacity in the 1st quarter came from solar power.
- 5,561,319 solar power systems have been installed across the Land of Stars and Stripes.
- There’s enough solar power installed in the United States to power 41.2 million average homes.
- There are now more than 250 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar power capacity in the States.
- The US has 51 GW worth of solar module manufacturing capacity, with 10.8 GW of capacity added in the 1st quarter.
That’s quite a list, eh? Solar power is winning. Unfortunately, though, it is winning less than it was and less than it could be. Almost all solar power growth stats for the 1st quarter of 2025 are lower than they were for the 1st quarter of 2024. Policy uncertainty at the federal level is hurting the solar industry, especially uncertainty around federal tax credits for solar power. Policy changes in California have also harmed the solar industry there. Overall, though, solar is the clear electricity winner of the decade, and that will continue. Stay tuned. But, for now, use the stats above to spread the good word.
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