EIA: U.S. small-scale solar generation has quadrupled over the past decade

Electricity generation from small-scale, or rooftop, solar systems in the United States has roughly quadrupled over the last decade, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in an analysis published October 16, 2026. The agency estimated that generation from systems smaller than 1 megawatt rose from 18,812 gigawatthours to 92,979 gigawatthours.

According to EIA, California, Arizona, Texas and Florida lead the country in small-scale solar generation. California accounted for 37% of the U.S. total in 2025, or 34,411 gigawatthours, and its generation grew 8% from 2024, largely because capacity rose from 18 gigawatts to 20 gigawatts. Arizona accounted for over 6%, or 5,795 gigawatthours. EIA said generation in Texas grew from 391 gigawatthours in 2016 to 5,408 in 2025, while Florida's rose from 205 to 5,198 over the same period.

The agency said New York ranks fifth despite lower solar resources, citing technology improvements and state incentives. Growth peaked in 2022, when generation rose 25%, which EIA partly attributed to changes in state programs, including California's net metering rules. EIA said the rate of growth has declined since 2022.

The agency said generation figures are estimates based on utility survey data and modeling tools.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/157