Fewer U.S. solar projects are pushing back their expected online dates, according to third-quarter 2025 data from the the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. About 20 percent of planned solar capacity reported a delay, down from 25 percent in the same period in 2024.
Solar remains the country’s fastest-growing source of new generating capacity, largely from utility-scale photovoltaic projects developed by electric utilities and independent power producers. Although delays remain common, they have been trending lower, and most are short.
Even with elevated delays in 2024, the year set a record for utility-scale solar additions. Developers brought 31 gigawatts of solar capacity online, increasing the nation’s utility-scale total by 34 percent, EIA reported. Cancellations continue to be rare, with less than 1 percent of planned capacity typically withdrawn in any given month.
Project developers initially report planned online dates in the Annual Electric Generator Report. Beginning 12 months before those dates, they provide monthly updates on project status and schedule. Because many developers cannot predict the timing or length of delays, total annual additions often fall short of early-year expectations. In January 2024, developers anticipated more than 36 GW of additions, about 5 GW more than the final total.
Most reported delays occur in late construction or testing stages, often only one to two months before a project is ready to start operation. These short setbacks account for much of the slippage in reported timelines.
In EIA’s latest monthly inventory, developers plan to bring 32 GW of solar capacity online from October 2025 through September 2026. About 5 GW of that total comes from projects that have already pushed back their expected startup dates.
Developers are reportedly moving quickly to start new solar projects after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) shortened the window to qualify for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits. The law includes a provision that allows wind and solar projects to keep their eligibility if they begin construction before July 4 of next year.
