[Solar: US adds 6.4GW of utility-scale clean power in Q1 2026]
The American Clean Power Association said US developers brought 6.4GW of new utility-scale solar, wind and energy storage capacity online in Q1 2026, lifting total domestic clean power capacity above 370GW. Additions included 3.63GW of utility-scale solar, 2.38GW of storage and 415MW of wind, with utility-scale solar now surpassing wind as the largest source of clean power capacity in the US. However, Q1 additions were down 17% year on year, mainly due to 6.4GW of projects originally expected online being delayed. ACP is tracking 59.5GW of delayed projects, affected by permitting delays, interconnection backlogs and fluctuating equipment prices. SMM believes the US solar and storage pipeline remains strong, but actual delivery will continue to be constrained by grid connection, permitting and supply chain challenges.