As solar breaks records, its security must catch up

In May 2026, solar generated more of the country's electricity than coal for the first time, according to data from energy think tank Ember. Solar made up 12.8% of U.S. electricity that month, edging out coal's 12.2%, and became the third-largest power source behind natural gas and nuclear. The Solar Energy Industries Association also projects continued growth in residential solar between 2027 and 2031, even though hundreds of projects have recently been slowed by permitting delays.

This growth is mostly about large-scale solar farms, but it points to broader momentum in the industry that also touches home solar. As more sites get built, security has become a bigger concern, particularly during construction, when panels and copper wiring often sit unprotected before fencing and staff are fully in place. One recent case: a man in North Carolina was charged with stealing 2,000 feet of copper wiring from two solar farms, causing $11,000 in losses.

None of this changes anything for a homeowner's own rooftop system, but it's a sign of how fast solar is scaling nationally. If you're considering a home solar installation, this kind of large-farm theft has no direct bearing on residential equipment, which isn't sited the same way or left exposed during long construction phases. Still, it's useful context for understanding just how quickly solar is expanding and why it's now competing directly with coal and other major power sources.