Sep 13, 2026 · 6 min · 6 segments
Solar News Weekly is a weekly recap of the headlines in solar PV news compiled by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and SolarPVtraining.com. Find out more about classes, textbooks and…
Jay WarmkeHost
U.S. electricity consumption will likely grow 2% in 2026 and another 2% in 2027, reaching record levels according to the Energy Information Administration, or EIA, in their latest short-term Energy Outlook report.
The growth will be led by the commercial sector, think data centers here, which will account for 63% of all new demand this year and 56% of increase for 2027.
Natural gas generation is expected to grow 2% this year and another 1% in 2027. while coal generation will decline 8% and 6% respectively.
EIA projects that solar generation will grow 21% in 2026 and by an additional 18% in 2027, while wind generation is set to increase 7% this year and 5% next year.
PJM, the grid covering 13 states from Illinois to New Jersey, will make up nearly 45% of the national growth in power demand.
However, other regions, particularly Texas, will also see significant low demand increases.
Texas demand averaged a record 74.5 gigawatts the week of August 22nd, 6% above the 2023 record and 10% above last summer's highest demand week.
Texas grid operators forecast that peak load demand will hit 120 gigawatts by 2030.
That's a 61% increase in four years and will top 154 gigawatts in peak demand by by 2035.
U.S. electricity consumption will likely grow 2% in 2026 and another 2% in 2027, reaching record levels according to the Energy Information Administration, or EIA, in their latest short-term Energy Outlook report.
The growth will be led by the commercial sector, think data centers here, which will account for 63% of all new demand this year and 56% of increase for 2027.
Natural gas generation is expected to grow 2% this year and another 1% in 2027. while coal generation will decline 8% and 6% respectively.
EIA projects that solar generation will grow 21% in 2026 and by an additional 18% in 2027, while wind generation is set to increase 7% this year and 5% next year.
PJM, the grid covering 13 states from Illinois to New Jersey, will make up nearly 45% of the national growth in power demand.
However, other regions, particularly Texas, will also see significant low demand increases.
Texas demand averaged a record 74.5 gigawatts the week of August 22nd, 6% above the 2023 record and 10% above last summer's highest demand week.
Texas grid operators forecast that peak load demand will hit 120 gigawatts by 2030.
That's a 61% increase in four years and will top 154 gigawatts in peak demand by by 2035.
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