Long weekend, longer sunlight — and it turns out this has been a landmark year for solar in the United States. As we fire up the grill and enjoy the extra day off, it felt like the right moment to step back and look at just how far solar has come, and where it’s headed next.
We just crossed 6 million installations
Earlier this year, the U.S. officially surpassed 6 million solar installations nationwide — and 97% of those are sitting on residential rooftops just like the ones we install every week. What’s remarkable isn’t just the number, it’s the pace: the country went from 5 million to 6 million installations in only two years. For context, it took decades to hit that first million.
Right now, about 9% of U.S. homes have solar. By 2030, that’s expected to climb to 11%, with total installations projected to top 8 million. Solar isn’t a niche choice anymore — it’s becoming a mainstream part of how American homeowners power their lives.
The bigger energy picture
Zoom out to the utility scale, and the growth is even more striking. Cumulative utility-scale solar capacity has more than tripled since 2020 — from 48 gigawatts to 161 gigawatts by early this year. Just a decade ago, solar supplied less than 1% of U.S. electricity. Today, solar and battery storage together accounted for 91% of all new electricity-generating capacity added in the first quarter of 2026 alone, with solar on its own making up 60%.
That means more often than not, when the country adds new power to the grid, it’s coming from the sun.
A more complicated year for homeowners — and why that matters
We’ll be straight with you: 2026 hasn’t been a straight line up for residential solar. The federal residential tax credit (Section 25D) expired at the start of the year, and it caused a rush of installations at the end of 2025 as homeowners raced to lock it in — followed by a quieter stretch since. Industry-wide, residential installations are expected to dip this year before returning to growth in 2027.
Here’s the thing: the fundamentals that make solar worth it haven’t changed. Utility rates keep climbing, equipment keeps getting more efficient, and financing options — including third-party ownership and prepaid plans — are evolving to fill the gap left by the expired credit. If anything, a quieter market often means more attention, faster scheduling, and more room for us to walk you through what still makes sense for your home and budget.
Why Labor Day is a good day to think about solar
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer — peak sunlight, peak energy bills, and for a lot of homeowners, the moment they finally get around to that home project they’ve been putting off. If going solar has been on your mind, there’s no better time to get a straight answer on what it would look like for your roof, your usage, and your budget.
Enjoy the long weekend. And if you’re curious what solar could do for your home, we’re happy to run the numbers with you.
Sources: Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Wood Mackenzie U.S. Solar Market Insight Report Q2 2026, American Clean Power Association Market Pulse Summer 2026.
