Stunning Fact: Solar Will Provide 20% Or More Of New Generating Capacity Starting Next Year

Heads will explode! Solar will provide this year close to 15% of the total new electric generation capacity built in the USA.

In 2013, solar's share of new electric generation capacity will climb again and reach at least 20% and possibly 25% of the market total.

And in the decades to come, solar will likely never provide less than 25% of the new electric generation capacity built every year in the USA.

The sun is on its way to becoming America's leading source of new electricity generation capacity. And yes I know that capacity is but one measure.  Solar plants produce considerably less actual electricity per megawatt of capacity than, for example, a typical nuclear plant that runs nearly every hour of the year.

But still capacity is a key metric and solar plants run best during peak hours and periods, with their actual power production in those critical periods reaching their highest levels.

If you don't believe that solar will regularly provide 20% or more of new electric generation capacity built in the USA, consider these numbers.

About 3,200 megawatts of new solar capacity will be built in the USA during 2012 and 4,000 megawatts in 2013.

Since 1940, the USA has built just 4 times more than 40,000 megawatts of new generation in any one year.  Normally, the USA builds 20,000 megawatts or less of new generation in any single year.
grist.org/article/2010-08-10-us-power-sector-where-plants-are-when-built-what-they-pollute/ and see
www.eia.gov/electricity/capacity/.

US solar annual build will soon exceed 5,000 megawatts and routinely provide 25% or more every year of America's new electricity generation capacity.

Heads are exploding!

While bickering about Solyndra dominated public discussion, the solar revolution arrived!  And it is going to just become bigger and brighter.