Solar Energy Generation by State Report August 2026

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California once again takes first place among the top states generating electricity from solar power this month. The Golden State produced 20.9% of the United States’ total of 47,147 thousand megawatt-hours, according to ChooseEnergy.com’s August 2026 solar energy generation report. The report analyzes the most recent solar energy data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

In the United States, the proportion of electricity generated from solar energy saw a 15.2% increase from April to May. Nationwide, solar energy production experienced a 20.7% increase between May 2025 and May 2026.

The following table ranks the best and worst states for solar energy production, shown in thousand megawatt-hours, in April and May. Number 1 represents the best state for solar energy production. The table also highlights the solar energy generation percentage change from month to month. Alabama, Alaska, New Hampshire, and North Dakota did not report solar energy production in May 2026.

States without any solar energy production in this dataset will be marked NA.

Solar energy is just one component of a state’s monthly total electricity generation. States produce power from a variety of sources, including solar energy. Other common energy sources include coal, natural gas, nuclear, and wind power. Some states may not generate as much electricity as others, but they do produce a higher percentage of solar energy than other power sources.

Nationally, solar energy accounted for about 13.3% of the electricity produced in May 2026. Massachusetts is the top state in this list, with about 69.9% of its electricity coming from solar generation. California is second on the list, with about 64.1% of its electricity coming from solar energy. Following are the states that produced the highest percentage of their power from solar energy:

• The cost of solar energy
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• The cost of solar panels
• Washington D.C. Solar
• Electricity rates by state

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How is solar energy measured?

Solar energy production is measured in megawatt-hours. One megawatt-hour equals 1,000 kilowatt-hours, which are used to measure residential energy use on electricity bills.

Why is solar becoming more popular?

The cost of residential solar panels has fallen by 40% in the last decade, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Decreasing prices combined with federal and state incentives have led to an increase in the popularity of home solar panels. Federal, state, and local governments have also set varying renewable energy goals, encouraging power plants to invest in sources like solar energy.

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity that we use to power our homes. To do this, the panel modules capture energy from the sun and turn it into direct current (DC) energy. Solar arrays have an inverter, which converts the DC energy into alternating current (AC) energy — the type of electricity that powers your home. If you keep your solar panel system connected to the power grid, you can also pull electricity from the grid when your system isn’t producing energy.