If your organization isn’t located in one of the more obvious top solar states, fear not. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) publishes a useful state-by-state list that details each state’s solar policies to help you make informed decisions about your own company’s renewable energy use.
This is a great page to bookmark to keep track of how much money your state is investing in solar, as well as the following information:
- Amount of kilowatts installed
- Utility incentive programs
- Notable projects
- Local solar companies
- Legislative updates
- State priorities
According to SEIA, California is considered the top solar state. A deep dive into the reasons why, courtesy of the site list, tells us:
- There are currently more than 2,639 solar companies in California, employing 100,050 people.
- In 2016, California installed 5,211.7 MW of solar electric capacity, making its total capacity 19,664.7 MW to date.
- In 2016, California invested $8,451.10 million on solar installations, which brings its total solar investment for the state to $51,541.31 million.
- California is expected to install 14,270 MW of solar electric capacity over the next five years, placing it in first place for projected growth among all the states.
You can find encouraging information about solar in all states, including such up-and-comers as West Virginia—which committed to a 61% increase in solar capacity between 2014 and 2015. As of 2016, the state was ranked 44th in the nation.
See the specifics of your state by clicking on the interactive map.
SEIA’s state-by-state breakdown
Related links:
The 3 types of onsite commercial solar installations
Getting up and running with commercial solar power
Learn how sustainable business practices can benefit your organization
This post originally appeared on the SunPower Business Feed.