November has been key for solar energy. A year ago this month, the global energy think tank Ember reported solar and wind generation had grown fast enough to meet all new global electricity demand, and that same November, Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) passed and went into effect this June 1.
Recently, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reported that the solar industry added 11.4 GWdc (gigawatts of direct current) of new electricity generating capacity in the second quarter of this year, a 45% year-over-year increase and a 43% increase from the first quarter of 2026. Together, solar and storage account for 70% of all new capacity added to the grid in the first half of 2026.