Solar capacity reaches major milestone in the U.S.

For the first time ever, American solar panel manufacturers are capable of meeting the country’s demand. 

The U.S. has exceeded 50 gigawatts (GW) in domestic solar manufacturing capacity—enough to supply power to almost 40 million homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). While domestic solar manufacturing capacity measures capability, not actual production, this milestone marks a turning point in the nation’s clean energy transition. 

By ramping up domestic solar panel manufacturing, the U.S. is reducing its reliance on foreign companies and strengthening its solar supply chain. To be sure, we still have a ways to go—many solar panel components, namely solar cells, are still produced overseas. Even so, this surge in U.S. solar panel manufacturing is a critical step toward greater energy independence.

The U.S. solar market has historically relied on foreign manufacturers to keep costs low and meet growing demand. While this helped the U.S. accelerate solar adoption, it also left American jobs on the table.  

Now, with solar panel manufacturing facilities expanding across the country, more solar-specific jobs are being created at home. The solar industry already employs almost 280,000 U.S. workers, and SEIA projects that the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce alone will reach 100,000 workers by 2033. 

Government policy played a key role in this growth. Solar tax incentives like those included in the Inflation Reduction Act make clean energy more accessible and encourage investments in domestic manufacturing. As a result, achievements that once seemed out of reach—like U.S. solar manufacturing keeping pace with demand—are becoming a reality.

Despite solar's bipartisan appeal, the federal government’s policy choices continue to influence the trajectory of the industry. Last month, President Trump ordered a pause on IRA funding after taking office for his second term, causing uncertainty in the industry. While he lacks the power to rescind IRA programs outright, the order to freeze funds may slow momentum in the sector. The President’s latest move against renewable energy sources is a step backward in an otherwise exciting time for the country’s clean energy transition.  

Programs like the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) should likely remain active through 2025, but ongoing policy shifts could impact the pace of U.S. solar manufacturing expansion.

Reaching a point where American-made solar panels can meet domestic demand is a major achievement—but it’s not the finish line. The next challenge is building out the rest of the supply chain, particularly for key components like solar cells, to further reduce dependence on imports.

Ensuring stable policy support will be critical to sustaining this progress, too. Whether through state-level initiatives or federal policies, long-term investment in solar manufacturing is key to maintaining U.S. leadership in the clean energy transition.

For now, this historic clean energy milestone signals a significant shift: the U.S. is no longer just a major consumer of solar energy—it’s becoming a dominant producer, too.