THE WORLD JUST CROSSED 3 TERAWATTS OF SOLAR. In April 2026, global installed solar capacity surpassed 3 TW, the equivalent of 3 trillion watts of peak generating capacity. But the bigger story is speed. The first terawatt took decades. The second roughly three years. The third less than two. In 2025 alone, an estimated 698 GW of new solar was installed worldwide, with China accounting for roughly 60% of new deployment. And the timing matters. As rising temperatures intensify heat extremes and contribute to conditions that can worsen wildfire risk, the transition away from fossil fuels becomes more than an energy story. Solar is now one of the most scalable tools available for expanding electricity generation without adding carbon emissions during operation. Three terawatts is installed capacity, not continuous output. Solar still depends on sunlight, location and weather. But the trajectory is unmistakable. Solar is moving beyond “alternative energy.” It is becoming global in...