US Solar Power to Surge 49% by 2027 with 70 GW Added

The United States is racing toward a solar-powered future faster than anyone predicted just a year ago. The US Energy Information Administration just forecasted that solar capacity will jump 49% by 2027, adding nearly 70 gigawatts of new generation power across the country.

To put that in perspective, utility-scale solar generation will leap from 290 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 to 424 billion kilowatt-hours by 2027. That's enough electricity to power tens of millions of additional homes with clean energy from the sun.

Solar is now the fastest-growing source of electricity in America, and the numbers prove it. Combined solar and wind power will climb from 18% of total US electricity generation in 2025 to 21% in 2027, steadily displacing fossil fuels in the energy mix.

Texas is leading the charge with the most ambitious solar expansion in the nation. The state's utility-scale solar generation will nearly double from 56 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025 to 106 billion kilowatt-hours by 2027, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

The Midwest is joining the solar revolution too. The region covered by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator will see solar generation grow from 31 billion kilowatt-hours to 46 billion kilowatt-hours in just two years.

The Ripple Effect

This solar surge is creating waves of positive change beyond just clean electricity. Battery storage is expanding rapidly alongside solar installations, with Texas alone jumping from 15 gigawatts of battery capacity in 2025 to 37 gigawatts by late 2027, solving the challenge of storing solar energy for nighttime use.

The shift is already changing America's energy landscape in real time. Natural gas, currently the largest electricity source, is seeing its share drop from a peak of 42% in 2024 to a projected 39% in 2027 as solar and wind take over more of the grid.

Coal-fired generation is declining even faster. After a brief spike in 2025 due to cold weather and high natural gas prices, coal generation is expected to drop 5% annually as older plants retire and cleaner alternatives take their place.

The forecast exceeded even last year's optimistic predictions, proving that America's clean energy transition is accelerating beyond expectations.