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The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center has published the Q3 2026 edition of its 50 States of Solar report, a quarterly series that tracks state regulatory and legislative activity on distributed solar policy. According to the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, the report covers net metering, distributed solar valuation, interconnection rules, community solar, residential fixed charges, residential demand and solar charges, financial incentives, third-party ownership and plug-in solar.
The report found that 42 states along with Puerto Rico took some form of distributed solar policy action during the third quarter of 2026. Net-metering policies accounted for the largest share of activity at 47 actions, followed by residential fixed charge or minimum bill increases at 45 and interconnection rules at 43. In total, 221 distributed solar policy actions were recorded for the quarter, with Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, California and Massachusetts generating the most activity.
The report highlights three trends in the quarter’s solar policy activity. The first is regulators developing rules to permit the use of meter socket adapters. The second is states expanding compensation for distributed energy resources beyond traditional generation-based models. The third is states incorporating consolidated billing into community solar programs.
Caitlin Flanagan, a policy analyst at the center, observed that regulators in several states concentrated this quarter on enabling meter socket adapter use, which could streamline and lower the cost of installing distributed energy resources. Flanagan noted that meter socket adapters let customers connect their distributed energy systems directly to their meter while avoiding electrical panel upgrades.
Rebekah de la Mora, a project manager at the center, noted that states are seeking alternative mechanisms to compensate customers for on-site energy resources outside of traditional net metering for distributed solar. She indicated this often involves expanding net metering programs or their successors to include energy storage systems, or establishing virtual power plant programs.
The report also notes the top five distributed solar policy actions of the third quarter of 2026. The findings were released by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Solar Panels market in the United States, covering market size, growth trajectory, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035.
The study is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, investors, procurement teams, advisors, and strategy teams that need a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. It encompasses the global market for finished modules, including all major product technologies and form factors designed for a wide range of end-use applications.
The report combines the standard market-statistics backbone with strategic chapters that are useful for commercial planning, sourcing decisions, market entry, competitor monitoring, and portfolio prioritization.
The market is segmented into decision-relevant buckets so that demand drivers, pricing logic, supply constraints, and competitive positions can be compared across the same analytical frame.
The market data is classified and analyzed according to international trade codes, primarily under the Harmonized System (HS) headings for photovoltaic cells and electric generating sets. This ensures consistent tracking of trade flows for assembled solar modules and relevant apparatus across global markets.
Coverage focuses on United States and includes demand, supply capability where present, trade flows, pricing, competition, and outlook.
The report combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, product-level evidence, and analyst validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to keep market sizing, trade flows, pricing, and forecasts comparable across countries and time periods.
All indicators are mapped to a consistent product definition and reviewed against the segmentation framework used in the Table of Contents.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
How the Report Was Built
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