Gideon Weissman
Former Policy Analyst, Frontier Group
America’s solar energy revolution continues to be led by a small group of states that have the greatest amount of solar energy capacity installed per capita. These 10 states have opened the door for solar energy and are reaping the rewards as a result.
Former Policy Analyst, Frontier Group
Solar energy is booming. In just the last three years, America’s solar photovoltaic capacity tripled. In 2014, a third of the United States’ new installed electric capacity came from solar power. And in three states – California, Hawaii, and Arizona – solar power now generates more than 5 percent of total electricity consumption.
With the cost of solar energy declining rapidly, tens of thousands more Americans each year are experiencing the benefits of clean energy from the sun, including energy generated right on the rooftops of their homes or places of business.
America’s solar energy revolution continues to be led by a small group of states that have the greatest amount of solar energy capacity installed per capita. These 10 states have opened the door for solar energy and are reaping the rewards as a result.
The Top 10 states with the most solar electricity installed per capita account for only 26 percent of the U.S. population but 86 percent of the nation’s total installed solar electricity capacity.* These 10 states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Vermont – possess strong policies that are enabling increasing numbers of homeowners, businesses, communities and utilities to “go solar.”
Figure ES-1. Cumulative U.S. Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Capacity
The continued success of solar power in these and other states has been threatened, however, by recent attacks by fossil fuel interests and electric utilities on key solar policies, such as net metering. Despite those attacks, many states have reaffirmed and expanded their commitments to solar energy over the past year by increasing solar energy goals and implementing new policies to expand access to clean solar power.
By following the lead of these states, the United States can work toward getting at least 10 percent of our energy from the sun by 2030, resulting in cleaner air, more local jobs and reduced emissions of pollutants that cause global warming.
Solar energy is on the rise – especially in states that have adopted strong public policies to encourage solar power. In 2014:
Figure ES-2. Solar Energy in the Top 10 Solar States versus the Rest of the U.S.
Table ES-1. Solar Electricity Capacity in the Top 10 Solar States (ranked by cumulative capacity per resident; data from the Solar Energy Industries Association)
State | Rank | Cumulative Solar Electricity Capacity per Capita 2014 (watts/person) | Solar Electricity Capacity Installed During 2014 per Capita (watts/person) | Cumulative Solar Electricity Capacity (MW) |
Hawaii |
1 |
312 | 72 | 443 |
Arizona |
2 |
307 | 37 | 2,067 |
Nevada |
3 |
278 | 119 | 789 |
California |
4 |
257 | 111 | 9,977 |
New Jersey |
5 |
162 | 27 | 1,451 |
New Mexico |
6 |
155 | 42 | 324 |
Vermont |
7 |
112 | 61 | 70 |
Massachusetts |
8 |
111 | 46 | 750 |
North Carolina |
9 |
96 | 40 | 954 |
Colorado |
10 |
74 | 13 | 398 |
America’s leading solar states have adopted strong policies to encourage homeowners and businesses to “go solar.” Among the Top 10 states:
Strong public policies at every level of government can help unlock America’s potential for clean solar energy, while helping states comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. To achieve America’s full solar potential:
All levels of government should lead by example by installing solar energy technologies on all government buildings where it is feasible to do so.
*In this report, “solar photovoltaic capacity” refers to installed solar photovoltaic systems, both distributed and utility-scale. “Solar electricity capacity” refers to all solar technologies that generate electricity, including concentrating solar power systems that use the sun’s heat – rather than its light – to generate electricity. The figures in this report do not include other solar energy technologies, such as solar water heating.
Former Policy Analyst, Frontier Group