Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The United States has officially exceeded 5 million solar installations, marking a significant achievement in the nation’s clean energy transition, proponents of the solar industry say.
This milestone comes just eight years after the United States reached 1 million installations in 2016 — a milestone that took 40 years to achieve following the first grid-connected solar installation in 1973, according to a press release.
According to data released by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie, over 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 became law just 20 months ago, the release states.
“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.”
Officials at SEIA forecasts that solar installations in the U.S. will double to 10 million by 2030 and triple to 15 million by 2034. The residential sector accounts for 97% of all solar installations in the U.S.
