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Solar Energy Generation by State Report October 2026

See where your state ranks for solar power generation using the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Updated:October 2, 2026

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Solar energy generation by state


JasonDoiy/iStock/Getty images

Choose Energy’s October 2026 Solar Energy Generation Report analyzes the latest available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which covers July 2026. The report includes utility-scale solar photovoltaic and thermal generation as well as estimated small-scale solar photovoltaic generation.

California generated more solar electricity than any other state in July 2026, accounting for 20.2% of the 52,337 thousand megawatt-hours generated nationwide.

U.S. solar electricity generation trends

According to the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly, U.S. solar electricity generation increased 5.4% from June to July 2026 and 20.9% compared with July 2025. Total solar generation reached 52,337 thousand megawatt-hours in July 2026.

The tables below use EIA state-level electricity data to compare each state’s total solar generation, monthly and annual percentage changes, share of U.S. solar generation, and solar share of statewide electricity generation. States are ranked by total solar generation in July 2026, with a ranking of 1 indicating the highest amount.

The EIA marked total solar generation for Alabama, Alaska, and New Hampshire as not available or not meaningful. These states are shown as NA and excluded from the rankings. North Dakota ranked 47th with 1 thousand MWh. Its monthly percentage change is shown as NA because its June generation was unavailable.

Solar generation rankings by state

State June 2026 solar generation (thousand MWh) July 2026 solar generation (thousand MWh) Monthly percentage change July 2026 solar generation rank
Alabama NA NA NA NA
Alaska NA NA NA NA
Arizona 2,705 2,708 0.1 4
Arkansas 710 766 7.9 17
California 10,572 10,596 0.2 1
Colorado 1,080 1,175 8.8 13
Connecticut 324 332 2.5 30
Delaware 55 56 1.8 44
Florida 3,214 3,280 2.1 3
Georgia 1,224 1,302 6.4 10
Hawaii 263 268 1.9 35
Idaho 285 279 -2.1 33
Illinois 1,521 1,704 12.0 6
Indiana 1,123 1,279 13.9 11
Iowa 228 246 7.9 36
Kansas 115 145 26.1 38
Kentucky 291 274 -5.8 34
Louisiana 333 385 15.6 28
Maine 349 374 7.2 29
Maryland 474 483 1.9 24
Massachusetts 781 823 5.4 16
Michigan 661 692 4.7 18
Minnesota 477 596 24.9 21
Mississippi 370 415 12.2 27
Missouri 508 461 -9.3 26
Montana 56 63 12.5 42
Nebraska 43 46 7.0 45
Nevada 1,864 1,767 -5.2 5
New Hampshire NA NA NA NA
New Jersey 662 687 3.8 19
New Mexico 936 974 4.1 15
New York 1,286 1,347 4.7 8
North Carolina 1,541 1,546 0.3 7
North Dakota NA 1 NA 47
Ohio 1,242 1,326 6.8 9
Oklahoma 228 287 25.9 32
Oregon 463 484 4.5 23
Pennsylvania 464 470 1.3 25
Rhode Island 120 125 4.2 39
South Carolina 499 520 4.2 22
South Dakota 54 59 9.3 43
Tennessee 289 300 3.8 31
Texas 8,652 10,126 17.0 2
Utah 1,013 1,026 1.3 14
Vermont 86 89 3.5 40
Virginia 1,302 1,201 -7.8 12
Washington 202 219 8.4 37
West Virginia 45 42 -6.7 46
Wisconsin 571 621 8.8 20
Wyoming 69 67 -2.9 41
United States 49,648 52,337 5.4

States with the highest percentage of electricity from solar energy

Solar energy is one component of a state’s total electricity generation. Other common sources include coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, and wind power. A state does not need to generate a large amount of electricity nationally for solar to represent a significant share of its electricity mix.

Based on the EIA’s July 2026 electricity data, solar energy accounted for approximately 11.3% of total U.S. electricity generation. California had the highest statewide solar share at 41%, followed by Vermont at 37.1% and Massachusetts at 32.2%. The following table ranks the states with the highest percentage of electricity generated from solar energy.

These percentages compare total solar generation, including estimated small-scale solar, with total utility-scale electricity generation plus estimated small-scale solar generation.

Top 10 states by solar share of electricity generation

State Solar generation July 2026 (thousand MWh) Total electricity generation July 2026 (thousand MWh) Solar share of total generation (%)
California 10,596 25,833 41.0
Vermont 89 240 37.1
Massachusetts 823 2,553 32.2
Nevada 1,767 5,752 30.7
Hawaii 268 995 26.9
Maine 374 1,482 25.2
Utah 1,026 4,166 24.6
New Mexico 974 4,349 22.4
Colorado 1,175 5,973 19.7
Arizona 2,708 13,855 19.5

Top 10 states for solar energy generation

State Solar generation July 2026 (thousand MWh) Share of U.S. solar generation (%)
California 10,596 20.2
Texas 10,126 19.3
Florida 3,280 6.3
Arizona 2,708 5.2
Nevada 1,767 3.4
Illinois 1,704 3.3
North Carolina 1,546 3.0
New York 1,347 2.6
Ohio 1,326 2.5
Georgia 1,302 2.5

Year-over-year solar energy generation by state

State July 2025 solar generation (thousand MWh) July 2026 solar generation (thousand MWh) Yearly percentage change
Alabama NA NA NA
Alaska NA NA NA
Arizona 2,380 2,708 13.8
Arkansas 627 766 22.2
California 10,232 10,596 3.6
Colorado 843 1,175 39.4
Connecticut 285 332 16.5
Delaware 45 56 24.4
Florida 2,835 3,280 15.7
Georgia 1,242 1,302 4.8
Hawaii 266 268 0.8
Idaho 251 279 11.2
Illinois 1,010 1,704 68.7
Indiana 841 1,279 52.1
Iowa 218 246 12.8
Kansas 98 145 48.0
Kentucky 209 274 31.1
Louisiana 292 385 31.8
Maine 327 374 14.4
Maryland 350 483 38.0
Massachusetts 763 823 7.9
Michigan 432 692 60.2
Minnesota 432 596 38.0
Mississippi 340 415 22.1
Missouri 307 461 50.2
Montana 59 63 6.8
Nebraska 40 46 15.0
Nevada 1,803 1,767 -2.0
New Hampshire NA NA NA
New Jersey 642 687 7.0
New Mexico 686 974 42.0
New York 1,188 1,347 13.4
North Carolina 1,520 1,546 1.7
North Dakota 0 1 NA
Ohio 1,024 1,326 29.5
Oklahoma 104 287 176.0
Oregon 457 484 5.9
Pennsylvania 401 470 17.2
Rhode Island 121 125 3.3
South Carolina 419 520 24.1
South Dakota 52 59 13.5
Tennessee 147 300 104.1
Texas 6,878 10,126 47.2
Utah 812 1,026 26.4
Vermont 57 89 56.1
Virginia 1,173 1,201 2.4
Washington 184 219 19.0
West Virginia 40 42 5.0
Wisconsin 544 621 14.2
Wyoming 61 67 9.8
United States 43,282 52,337 20.9

Questions about our solar generation data?

Journalists and researchers looking for historical solar generation data, methodology details, or additional context can contact the Choose Energy team.

 

Solar energy generation FAQs

How is solar energy measured?

Solar electricity generation is measured in megawatt-hours (MWh). The tables on this page report generation in thousand MWh. One thousand MWh equals 1,000 MWh, or 1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). Learn more about how the EIA measures electricity.

Why is solar becoming more popular?

Solar energy has become more popular as photovoltaic system costs have declined, technology has improved, and policies such as tax credits and net metering have encouraged adoption. The EIA explains that these factors have helped expand photovoltaic use in the United States.

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter converts that electricity into alternating current (AC), the type used in most homes. A grid-connected solar system can draw electricity from the power grid when the panels are not producing enough power.