A Landowner Perspective on Solar Development
Solar generation is becoming a larger part of the U.S. electricity mix as organizations evaluate options for meeting rising demand. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, wind and utility-scale solar together accounted for a record 17% of U.S. electricity generation in 2025. When EIA’s estimate of small-scale solar is included, the combined share reaches 19%. Utility-scale solar generation increased 34% from 2024.
Beyond national generation trends, individual landowners can experience energy development in different ways. In a recent ENGIE video, a fourth-generation local landowner whose property is adjacent to a solar project describes maintaining a connection to land that has been part of the family’s history for generations.
The account presents one landowner’s experience rather than a universal outcome. It offers a practical example of how local considerations, land use, and individual economic arrangements can be part of conversations surrounding new energy infrastructure.