5 major US solar projects lighting up 2026
The United States solar energy sector is gearing up for a breakout year in 2026 as massive utility scale projects prepare to come online and expand the nation’s renewable energy capacity. According to the US Energy Information Administration nearly 70 gigawatts of new solar capacity is expected to be added in 2026 and 2027. This growth represents a nearly 50 percent increase in total solar generating capacity compared with the end of 2025. Solar and wind energy will account for virtually all net new electricity generating capacity in 2026, with solar leading the expansion within that clean energy mix.
This surge in clean energy infrastructure will support grid reliability, help reduce carbon emissions and further establish solar as a cornerstone of the US energy transition. Below are five of the most significant solar projects shaping the landscape for 2026.
1. Mammoth Solar largest US photovoltaic project
Mammoth Solar in Indiana is set to be the largest photovoltaic solar farm in the United States and the western hemisphere at full build out. The utility scale project in Pulaski and Starke Counties has a planned capacity of 1600 megawatts and is being built in multiple phases. The first phase came online in 2024 with hundreds of megawatts already contributing to the grid. When complete the facility will generate enough clean energy for hundreds of thousands of homes and help power regional electricity demand while supporting broader renewable energy objectives.
2. Atlas Solar Complex in Arizona expands capacity
In the southwestern United States developers are advancing the Atlas Solar Complex in Arizona. This project is among the largest planned solar additions in the country with over 2000 megawatts of solar energy capacity slated for operation. The scale of this development underscores the accelerating build out of clean energy infrastructure across the desert southwest where abundant sun resources support cost effective solar production. This project is expected to make a major contribution to the nation’s clean energy portfolio in 2026, strengthening grid capacity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
3. Major solar projects in Texas drive growth
Texas continues to emerge as a key solar energy hub with a large pipeline of utility scale projects expected to begin operations in 2026. Several facilities in the state are planned to enter service with hundreds of megawatts of capacity each including Buffalo Creek, Compadre Solar, Chillingham and others. These projects collectively highlight Texas’s role in scaling solar energy across the United States. The state’s favorable land and grid conditions along with strong demand from corporate clean energy buyers contribute to rapid deployment of renewable energy resources.
4. Solar plus battery storage integration in California
California is advancing projects that combine solar generation with energy storage to improve reliability and grid flexibility. The Edwards and Sanborn Solar plus Energy Storage facilities represent a growing class of integrated clean energy developments. These projects not only generate large amounts of solar power but also pair with battery systems to store excess energy for use during periods of low sunlight or high demand. This integration supports California’s goals for renewable energy expansion and helps stabilise electricity supply as solar capacity grows.
5. Eagle Shadow Mountain solar farm on tribal land
The Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Farm is an important example of solar energy deployment on tribal lands. Located on the Moapa River Indian Reservation the project will produce hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy. Because it is developed in partnership with tribal nations it represents both an economic opportunity and a step toward energy equity for communities that have historically had limited access to large scale energy investments. Solar farms of this scale support meaningful reductions in carbon emissions and offer a pathway for tribal nations to benefit from the clean energy transition.
What these projects mean for US clean energy
The scale and pace of solar deployment heading into 2026 underline a structural shift in the US energy system. From Indiana’s Mammoth Solar project to gigawatt scale developments in Arizona and Texas, and from advanced solar plus storage facilities in California to tribal led projects in Nevada, solar energy is no longer a niche contributor. It is becoming the backbone of new power generation capacity across the country.
These projects reflect more than just rising megawatt totals. They signal accelerating investment in clean energy infrastructure, stronger policy alignment at state and federal levels, and growing demand from corporations and utilities seeking stable long term renewable energy supply. Solar energy, supported increasingly by battery storage, is improving grid resilience while reducing exposure to fuel price volatility and carbon intensive generation.