US Solar Power Hits Record High Amid Rising AI-Driven Electricity Demand
The United States has set new records in solar power generation, with output up 21% year-over-year as of early July 2026. This surge is driven by a rapid expansion of utility-scale solar installations and increasing electricity demand fueled largely by the growth of AI data centers across the country. Developers are on track to add over 43 GW of new solar capacity in 2026, with Texas leading additions at around 40%. Solar now accounts for more than half of all planned utility-scale generating capacity. Meanwhile, US electricity consumption is expected to rise steadily through 2027 as data center power demand nearly doubles by that year. Renewables are playing a key role in meeting this growing energy need—especially from AI infrastructure—with solar and wind absorbing almost half the global increase in data center electricity use between 2024 and 2030. However, rising generation costs have led to higher residential power rates, increasing by over 21% since 2022.