---
"title": "3. Americans’ perceptions of solar power in their own lives"
"description": "Large-scale solar power generates about 4% of all electricity in the U.S. Capacity has almost doubled in the last year. Smaller-scale installations – including solar panels on things like homes and public buildings – have also seen sharp growth. The new Center survey asked Americans how common three different types of solar panel developments are […]"
"date": "2024-06-27"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Alec Tyson"
    "job_title": "Former Associate Director"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/alec-tyson/"
  -
    "name": "Brian Kennedy"
    "job_title": "Senior Researcher"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/brian-kennedy/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/science/2024/06/27/americans-perceptions-of-solar-power-in-their-own-lives/"
"categories":
  - "Energy"
  - "Partisanship & Issues"
  - "Political Issues"
"datasets":
  -
    "name": "American Trends Panel Wave 148"
    "url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/dataset/american-trends-panel-wave-148/"
---

# 3\. Americans’ perceptions of solar power in their own lives

Large-scale solar power generates about [4% of all electricity](https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3) in the U.S. Capacity has [almost doubled](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/04/climate/us-wind-energy-solar-power.html?partner=slack&smid=sl-share) in the last year. Smaller-scale installations – including solar panels on things like homes and public buildings – have also seen sharp growth.

[![Chart shows Most Americans say that large-scale solar isn’t too common in their community](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/06/PS_2024.6.27_energy_3-01.png?w=420){.alignright width=280}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/?attachment_id=179526)

The new Center survey asked Americans how common three different types of solar panel developments are in their community: small-scale solar development on homes, somewhat larger solar developments on buildings and in parking lots, and large-scale solar panel farms.

Americans report that home solar is the most common of these three types in their community.

- 18% of Americans say solar panels are extremely or very common on a person’s home in their community. An additional 31% say solar panels are somewhat common.
- 13% say solar panels are extremely or very common on buildings or in parking lots in their community; 26% say this is somewhat common.
- 8% say large solar panel farms are extremely or very common in their community and 18% say they are somewhat common. A majority (64%) say large-scale solar developments are not too or not at all common.

There are only modest differences in perceptions of solar panel development between Republicans and Democrats.

In [a 2023 Pew Research Center survey](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/science/2023/06/28/what-americans-think-about-an-energy-transition-from-fossil-fuels-to-renewables/), 7% of homeowners said they have installed solar panels on their home; an additional 28% said they were seriously considering it.

[![Chart shows Westerners are most likely to say home solar panels are common in their community](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/06/PS_2024.6.27_energy_3-02.png?w=420){.alignright width=280}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/?attachment_id=179527)

Westerners are most likely to report that home solar panels are common in their community. About one-third of Westerners say solar panels installed on a home are extremely or very common in their community.

In contrast, just 6% of Midwesterners say home solar panels are extremely or very common in their community. A majority (64%) say they are not too or not at all common.

The perception of solar development in the U.S. is consistent with geographic data on solar panel installation. According to the [U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=54379), the West leads the country in small-scale solar installments, followed by the Northeast, the South and the Midwest.

The regional differences are more modest when it comes to perceptions of large-scale solar development.

---

**Next:** [Acknowledgments](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/science/2024/06/27/energy-acknowledgments/markdown)