So Much Solar: Digging Into the List of Every US Power Plant That Went Online This Year

13 Aug 2026 | Abstracted from Inside Climate News

In the first half of 2026, 368 new U.S. power plants began operation, dominated by utility‑scale solar (207 projects, 11,458 MW) and batteries (95 projects, 8,207 MW). Landmark additions include New Mexico’s 3,650 MW SunZia wind farms, Ohio's 900 MW Trumbull gas plant, and Massachusetts' Vineyard Wind. Texas led in new capacity, but the broader trend is clear: solar plus battery projects are now the sector’s workhorse.

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