The solar revolution is upon us. Installations are high, prices have decreased considerably, and more local, city and state governments are adopting policies that will continue to drive growth in the market.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, in the first quarter of 2014, 1,330 MW of Solar PV were installed in the U.S., the second highest number recorded in the history of the market. Even more significantly, the number of first time residential installations exceeded the number of non-residential (commercial) installations for the first time nationally since 2002.
So which states are leading the way? There's definitely a correlation between the top states for cumulative solar capacity, and the top states for solar energy policy leaders (as outlined in Triple Pundit's article)—each state had a corresponding cumulative solar electric capacity ranking in the the top 20.
Our chart displays Watts/per Person in each of the top 10 states for cumulative solar electricity capacity, and the list below includes population information and policy leader rank (if falling in the top 10).
Top 10 States Data Breakdown
1. Arizona
Population: 6,553,225
275 Watts/person
Policy Ranking: 1
2. Hawaii
Population: 1,392,313
243 Watts/person
3. Nevada
Population: 2,758,931
161 Watts/person
4. California
Population: 38,041,430
148 Watts/person
5. New Jersey
Population: 8,864,590
136 Watts/person
Policy Rank: 2
6. New Mexico
Population: 2,085,538
113 Watts/person
Policy Rank: 6
7. Delaware
Population: 917,092
82 Watts/person
Policy Rank: 3
8. Massachusetts
Population: 6,646,144
66 Watts/person
Policy Rank: 4
9. Colorado
Population: 5,187,582
63 Watts/person
Policy Rank: 7
10. North Carolina
Population: 9,535,483
57 Watts/person
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