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.
Receiving a solar true-up bill can be surprising, especially if you assumed your solar system covered all of your electricity needs. Your annual true-up bill simply compares how much energy your solar panels produced with how much electricity your home used over the past year.
Many homeowners mistakenly believe that installing solar means unlimited free electricity. In reality, increased energy use—such as running the air conditioner more often, charging an electric vehicle, or adding new appliances—can result in a higher true-up bill if your home’s consumption exceeds your system’s production.
The best way to avoid unexpected costs is to regularly monitor your solar energy system. Reviewing your system’s performance and tracking your home’s energy usage throughout the year helps ensure your solar panels are operating properly and allows you to spot changes before they affect your annual true-up bill.
A higher true-up bill doesn’t always mean your solar system has a problem. More often, it’s a reminder that your energy usage and your solar production should stay in balance. By monitoring both, you’ll maximize your savings and get the most from your solar investment.
The home with the solar energy system must be located in San Luis Obispo County. PG&E account number and phone number are required. Data is not shared or sold. Other restrictions may apply. No cost to homeonwer. Report is provided via email.
As rivers shrink and reservoirs hit historic lows, hydropower is quietly losing strength. The massive dams that once anchored grid stability now produce less electricity. Demand keeps rising — driven by heat waves and a rapidly electrifying economy. But decline isn’t the whole story. Sunlight is stepping in to fill the gap left by water. How the U.S. adapts will shape the grid’s future and the resilience of entire regions.
Drought Is Hitting Hydropower Hard
Prolonged drought, reduced snowpack, and shifting precipitation are dealing a direct blow to hydroelectric generation. Hydropower needs consistent water flow and adequate reservoir levels. When rivers run low or reservoirs drop below operational thresholds, output falls. Major systems across the West already face reduced capacity. Utilities scramble to lean on fossil fuels or other renewables to compensate.
The Numbers Tell a Stark Story
Power generation at Glen Canyon at Lake Powell fell by 17% on average from 2000 to 2023, compared with pre-drought years from 1988 to 1999. The basin has experienced its driest 22-year period in a 1,200-year record. In 2022, Lake Powell had dropped to historic lows, and power production was at its lowest since 1964, when production started.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects 2024 hydropower generation will fall roughly 13% below the 10-year average. Drought across the Pacific Northwest is the primary driver. A 2024 study in Nature Communications found capacity factors declined at approximately 80% of U.S. hydropower plants since 1980. That contributed to a cumulative generation drop of about 23%. The financial toll is equally stark. Research from the University of Alabama estimates drought-related losses between 2003 and 2020 cost utilities roughly $28 billion.
Variability Is the Deeper Problem
Reduced output is serious, but variability may be worse. Hydropower has long excelled at ramping up or down quickly to balance the grid. Unpredictable water availability destroys that reliability. This matters most during extreme heat events, when electricity demand peaks and the grid can least afford instability.
Solar Steps In Where Water Falls Short
Solar power doesn’t just offset declining hydropower — it complements it in ways few other sources can. Drought conditions that reduce river flow often coincide with clear skies and intense sunlight. This creates a natural substitution effect. When Southwest reservoirs are low and hydro output drops, solar production frequently peaks. Solar also excels at covering the afternoon demand surge — exactly the window hydropower has traditionally managed. By meeting daytime load, solar reduces the need to draw down scarce water reserves.
Storage Lets Solar Play Hydro’s Flexibility Role
Paired with battery storage, solar can replicate hydropower’s flexibility. Solar-plus-storage systems capture excess midday generation and release it after sunset. This mirrors the load-balancing function water-powered plants have historically provided. Without solar, hydropower shortfalls typically get filled by natural gas or coal — worsening the very climate conditions driving the water crisis.
The Science Backs It Up
Research increasingly confirms what grid operators already experience. A study in ScienceDirect found that integrating solar with existing hydropower boosted overall capacity by 25% while reducing reliance on hydro during low-water periods. A 2023 study in PNAS found that under extreme drought, fossil fuel plants may increase generation by up to 65% to compensate for lost hydropower. In heavily hydro-dependent states, drought-induced emissions could reach 40% of total electricity-sector emissions. Solar expansion directly counters that outcome.
Hydro and Solar Can Amplify Each Other
Research from Argonne National Laboratory points to an even tighter integration. Pumped-storage hydropower facilities — which accounted for 96% of U.S. utility-scale energy storage in 2022 — can absorb excess solar generation during low-demand periods. They store it as potential energy in elevated reservoirs, then release it when demand rises. In this model, solar and hydro don’t just coexist — they amplify each other. Studies show solar is especially well-suited to compensate for hydropower shortfalls during dry-season low-flow periods — precisely the conditions becoming more common across the American West.
Solar Scales Where Hydro Cannot
Solar projects build faster and across far more locations than large hydroelectric facilities. Dams are locked to specific geographies and dependent on water that’s increasingly scarce. That scalability makes solar one of the most practical near-term tools available as hydropower becomes less predictable.
A Bridge Over Drying Rivers
Solar won’t replace hydropower one-for-one. But it generates power when water is scarce, absorbs peak daytime demand, and pairs with storage to provide evening flexibility. Solar is uniquely positioned to stabilize the grid — and to bridge the widening gap left by America’s drying rivers.
By Frank Scotti, Sustainable Energy Advocate – Jun 16, 2026
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is proposing to update the net energy metering policy for solar homeowners, commonly referred to as NEM.
The proposed billing plan, NEM 3.0, is complicated and confusing, not surprising. Maybe it was intended to confuse, so we don’t really focus on how unjust the proposed new plan is. But don’t fret. I have summarized the proposed changes for you here:
Historically the export compensation of solar in California is based off a Net Energy Metering (NEM) Policy. Both NEM1.0 and NEM2.0 were under this compensation mechanism. With NEM, when a system owner is generating more electricity than they are consuming, the excess energy is exported back to the utility grid and the customer receives a credit equal to or slightly less than the full-retail rate. This credit can then be applied to offset electricity consumption within the current billing cycle (i.e. monthly) or in future billing cycles before expiring annually at some specified month (known as the true-up period).
NEM has been the law of the land in California since 1995, covering all customers of the state’s three largest utilities—PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E. It’s currently on its second version, NEM 2.0. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is nearing the end of designing NEM 3.0, and the changes that have been proposed could greatly reduce the financial benefits people can get by owning solar panels or subscribing to community solar. Under NEM 3.0, most of the homeowners savings are stripped away, ending up in the utility company’s pockets. Under NEM 2.0, current solar customers in California save an average of between 22 and 36 cents for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated by their panels. Under the proposed NEM 3.0 plan, the credit for excess generation will go down to just 4.7 to 5.8 cents, on average. Let’s not forget that the utilities currently already make a good profit reselling excess solar power at peak energy rates. Save $310 per month or save $10 per month. That is NEM 2.0 vs. NEM 3.0 in the simplest terms. Example: In April, under the current NEM 2.0, my solar array produced 1.5MWh of energy. My home used .5MWh. The additional 1 MWh was sent to the grid and I receive a credit of $310 (1,000 kWh x $0.31 [$.34/kWh retail rate LESS ±$0.03/kWh grid fee] = $310). I will use this credit in any month where my use exceeds my solar energy generation, such as in July and August when I am running my air conditioner.
Running the same scenario under NEM 3.0, my solar array produces 1.5MWh of energy. My home used .5MWh. The additional 1 MWh was sent to the grid. But I only receive a credit of $0.05/kWh. In addition, I must also pay a “participation” fee of $40/mo. on average. My new monthly savings is just $10. Ten stinking dollars. Thanks, PG&E, for letting me keep a little sumpin’ sumpin’.
In May 2022, the CPUC commission delayed the decision “until further notice.” The solar energy industry, as well as the utility energy industry in California expect the issue to be revisited this year, possibly as soon as July 2022. If and when a final NEM 3.0 decision and policy is voted on and approved, NEM3.0 could be implemented as soon as Jan 2023.
Industry and consumer lobbying fighting for solar rights has taken place throughout the negotiating process. Unfortunately big utility has the power to get their way. It seems like the CPUC has forgotten the “Public” part of their name, and are siding with big utility companies and their control over energy and shareholder profit. You can still call your local representative, or the governor’s office to voice your support for solar rights.
The good news, if there is any, is that, folks who go solar before the NEM 3.0 deadline, possibly as soon as December 2022, MAY be locked into the NEM 2.0 rate structure for 10 years. Calculate your new solar savings by looking at 10-year return on investment, not 25 years. And being that the decision to go solar and lock into NEM 2.0 will have to happen before Dec, 2022, you will also qualify for the 26% solar tax credit before drops again.
Recent news coverage of a large commercial building fire in Los Angeles has understandably raised concerns among homeowners with rooftop solar. Images of flames involving a solar installation are alarming—especially when widely covered in the media.
But one critical fact often gets lost in the headlines: residential solar systems are extremely safe, and fires involving properly installed systems are extraordinarily rare. In fact, homes are significantly more likely to experience fires from common electrical issues—or even from a lightning strike—than from solar panels.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, rooftop solar systems rarely cause fires. Most residential fires originate from conventional electrical sources and may spread to other parts of the home.
Built-In Safety Features
Modern solar systems are designed with multiple layers of protection, including:
Rapid shutdown technology
Arc-fault and ground-fault protection
Circuit breakers and disconnect switches
Continuous system monitoring
Required utility and building inspections
Certified, code-compliant equipment
These safeguards ensure that if an issue is detected, the system automatically shuts down before it can escalate.
The Importance of Proper Installation
As with any home electrical system, installation quality is critical. When solar-related incidents do occur, they are typically linked to:
Improper installation
Faulty connections or damaged wiring
Low-quality components
Poor workmanship or lack of maintenance
Choosing a licensed, experienced, and reputable contractor is the most important step in minimizing risk. A properly installed and maintained system presents a very low fire hazard.
How Solar Compares to Everyday Risks
Most homeowners rarely think about the electrical systems they use every day—outlets, appliances, HVAC systems, and aging wiring—all of which are common sources of residential fires.
A solar system is simply another electrical system, designed and inspected under strict safety standards. In fact, insurers and fire safety organizations generally do not consider solar to pose a higher fire risk than other properly installed electrical systems.
What Homeowners Should Do
If you already have solar:
Monitor system performance
Schedule periodic inspections
Respond promptly to alerts
Keep maintenance records
Use qualified professionals for service
If you’re considering solar:
Verify contractor licensing and insurance
Ask about safety features like rapid shutdown
Choose reputable equipment
Ensure permits and inspections are completed
Review warranties and certifications
The Bottom Line
Highly publicized incidents receive attention precisely because they are rare. A single event can create the impression of widespread risk, even when the data shows otherwise.
Modern residential solar systems have an excellent safety record. They are governed by strict electrical and fire codes and include multiple built-in protections for both homeowners and first responders.
The recent Los Angeles warehouse fire should not be viewed as representative of residential solar safety. Instead, it highlights the importance of proper design, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance—standards that have enabled millions of homeowners to safely benefit from solar energy.
For Central Coast homeowners, Solarponics has been designing and installing solar systems since 1975, with a long-standing commitment to safety, quality workmanship, and code-compliant installations. With thousands of systems installed and decades of experience navigating California’s strict standards, Solarponics customers can feel confident their systems are built for safe, reliable performance.
Chicago’s public buildings could all be powered by renewable energy under a plan announced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Aug. 8.
The mayor, along with Illinois Gov JB Pritzker, on Monday said the city has an agreement with Chicago utility Constellation Energy, along with Massachusetts-based Swift Current Energy, a renewable energy developer. The two spoke at a news conference at the Chicago Urban League. The deal would make Chicago one of the world’s largest cities to commit to using 100% renewable energy.
“I am incredibly proud to advance this commitment to transitioning all city operations to 100% renewable energy by 2025,” Lightfoot said. “The signing of this agreement demonstrates that the City of Chicago is leading by example and driving high-impact climate action, building the clean energy workforce of the future and equitably distributing meaningful benefits to foster the local clean energy economy for all.”
Climate Action Plan
Construction of projects related to the plan is set to begin by year-end. Lightfoot touted the plan’s job creation potential in addition to how it would reduce the city’s carbon footprint. “The 2022 climate action plan deepens our city’s longstanding commitment to climate action, and sets a goal of reducing emissions in Chicago by 62% by 2040,” Lightfoot said.
The mayor’s office said the agreement with Constellation will support the purchase of renewable energy for all city facilities and operations by 2025. An initial five-year energy supply agreement is expected to begin in January 2023.
“We are providing a clean energy solution that will help the City of Chicago,” said Jim McHugh, chief commercial officer for Constellation Energy.
Large Solar Farm Project
Lightfoot’s office said the agreement also will enable a supply of renewable energy for major organizations across Illinois. The city in 2025 will begin partly powering large facilities such as the city’s airports and other buildings with renewable energy from solar power, which will be generated from a Swift Current Energy solar farm—the 593-MW Double Black Diamond project—in Sangamon and Morgan counties in downstate Illinois.
The groups on Monday said construction and operation of the solar farm is expected to create hundreds of jobs, and would be among the state’s largest solar projects to date.
“We are thrilled to have the City of Chicago as a key customer for the Double Black Diamond Solar project,” said Matt Birchby, co-founder and president of Swift Current Energy, in a statement. “Double Black Diamond Solar has the capacity to create significant benefits for the State of Illinois. We commend the City of Chicago for their leadership in securing 100% clean, renewable energy for all city buildings and operations and Sangamon and Morgan counties for hosting this project.”
“Double Black Diamond makes Sangamon County a leading generator of clean solar power,” said Andy Van Meter, Sangamon County board chairman, in a statement. “We are pleased to host an infrastructure project of this magnitude that will create meaningful and long-lasting benefits for our area and the state. The project will employ hundreds of construction workers and directly create permanent, high paying positions. It will also create a significant, long-term source of tax revenue for our schools and community.”
The mayor’s office said the city also will purchase renewable energy credits from other sources for its remaining power uses, which could include the electricity supply for small- and medium-sized buildings, and street lights.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior associate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
Solar power doesn’t just offset declining hydropower — it complements it in ways few other sources can. Drought conditions that reduce river flow often coincide with clear skies and intense sunlight. This creates a natural substitution effect. When Southwest reservoirs are low and hydro output drops, solar production frequently peaks. Solar also excels at covering the afternoon demand surge — exactly the window hydropower has traditionally managed. By meeting daytime load, solar reduces the need to draw down scarce water reserves.
