When you think about which places in the U.S. are the best for solar energy, you probably think of those places with the most sunshine. And while that approach is certainly valid, there are many other considerations besides weather.

States like Arizona, Texas, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Florida are considered some of the sunniest places in the nation. There is a large amount of solar PV installed in the major cities. Homeowners and businesses have learned that solar panels are a great asset when it comes to cutting rising utility bills. They have also seen power disruptions caused by extreme weather conditions like wildfires, storms, and even freezing temperatures.

In times of need, solar power can provide reliable, clean energy. As homeowners produce their own power, it helps create a more resilient electrical grid, especially when the demand for power is high. Having alternative energy sources in place of grid power makes solar attractive, but there are other things that make solar attractive.

Shining Cities is an annual report conducted by the Environment America Research & Policy Center. It determines the total amount of installed solar power per person in America’s largest cities. In 2022, those top nine named shining cities were found to have more solar power than the entire United States just 10 years ago — illustrating the rapid growth of solar adoption. This positive trend is not slowing down.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) found that solar power accounted for 46% of all new U.S. electricity-generating capacity in 2021. For the third year in a row, solar power is making up the largest share of new capacity. Having an effective solar policy, including the solar federal tax credit (ITC) that provides qualified homeowners who purchase solar with a tax credit, helps this continued growth.

Public policy continues to play an important role in which states are most likely to adopt renewable energy. For example, California has been a leader in green building for many years. The implementation of the Title 24 energy code in 2020, which requires all new homes to include solar, has made quite an impact on the rapid growth of rooftop solar.

And when you know that Title 24 includes multifamily units like condos, townhomes, and duplexes that are three stories high or less, you can understand the huge impact it has. Initiatives like this are keeping California at the forefront of the clean energy revolution. In fact, on April 30, it recently broke a significant record. On that date, the state’s demand for electricity was 100% matched by renewable energy generation for the first time in history. Clean energy, with solar generating most of that power, provided all the state’s energy needs for approximately fifteen minutes.

Some of the best locations for solar energy are areas where effective solar policy is active. That’s why SunPower continues to have a policy and strategy team working with local and national governments to keep solar affordable and accessible to homeowners everywhere. But whether you are in those top locations or not, the ability to enjoy the benefits of clean energy, from fostering better air quality to reducing utility costs, is available to everyone.

Let us answer all of your questions! Go solar with Sunergy Systems and save now and long into the future. Talk to our sales staff or visit us online for more.