How Solar-friendly is Your State?
Since the mid-2010s, the advancements in solar power systems have made them cheaper to produce, more efficient, less expensive, and more accessible than ever before. Since 2014, the price of solar panels has dropped more than 70%. Today, the solar market continues to grow, increasing by 30% since 2020. Furthermore, some states like Massachusetts offer valuable financial assistance to those wanting to go solar, while states like North Dakota outright dissuade solar use.
To help homeowners make more sense of America’s complex solar landscape, we conducted a study on which states are the most solar-friendly. This article shares our findings and discusses some reasons for certain states’ rankings.
Key Findings
Our research showed that the top five most solar-friendly states in the U.S. are:
- California, has over 35,000 megawatts of solar installations powering over 8,000,000 homes.
- Massachusetts, has nearly 4000 megawatts of solar installations powering over 500,000 homes.
- Arizona, has over 5,000 megawatts of solar installations powering 800,000 homes.
- Hawaii, has 1,500 megawatts of solar installations powering 350,000 homes.
- Nevada, has nearly 5,000 megawatts of solar installations powering over 600,000 homes.
On the other hand, the least solar-friendly states are:
- North Dakota, with a single megawatt of solar installations powering just over 100 homes.
- South Dakota, with two megawatts of solar installations powering just over 200 homes.
- Alaska, with 15 megawatts of solar installations powering nearly 1,500 homes.
- West Virginia, with 20 megawatts of solar installations powering over 1,000 homes.
- Nebraska, with 73 megawatts of solar installations powering almost 8,000 homes.
Solar Friendliness by State
Solar friendliness is a complex topic, as many factors impact a state’s solar industry. For our study, we took the following elements into account:
- Population
- Solar installations (measured in megawatts)
- Estimated residents powered by solar
- Percentage of electricity generated by solar
- The amount of money invested in the state’s solar industry as of 2022
- Number of state incentives (if any)
Below we’ll discuss some of our most important and notable findings.
Most Solar-friendly States
The top five most solar-friendly states came as little surprise, with California leading the pack by a wide margin. Currently, California’s population sits at 38,959,247, with 8,548,370 residences powered by solar electricity. The Golden State has invested over $73 billion in its solar industry, producing over 35,950 megawatts of solar power and generating over 23% of the state’s electricity. California has been a figurehead in the solar industry and green energy movement, with the numbers to back it up.
Next in line comes Massachusetts, with 3,927 megawatts worth of installations, Arizona at 5,743, Hawaii at 1,477, and Nevada at 4,967. Each state has invested billions in solar energy, with Arizona being the second highest at $13 billion. Each state also has a large amount of its electricity provided by solar power, with Massachusetts having almost 20% of its total power come from solar panels.
The last five of the top 10 most solar-friendly states are Texas at 13,947 megawatts, North Carolina at over 7,935, Florida at 9,012, Utah at 2,616, and New Jersey at 3,992. One thing that may appear odd at first glance is Texas’s placement at the number six spot. While Texas produces more overall megawatts than most other states in the top five, it comes up short when you average its total population to the number of residents powered by solar. Also, the total percentage of electricity provided by solar compared to the amount of fossil fuel it consumes is extremely low.
Interestingly, our data showed that sunshine is not an automatic qualifier for solar energy. States must actively invest in developing a solar industry and promote interest in solar with funding and incentives. Take Florida, for example. The Sunshine State, unsurprisingly, receives a massive amount of sunlight and would benefit from a robust solar system more than many other states. However, due to the state’s tenuous relationship with solar power and its relatively recent implementation of a solar program, its numbers are much lower than one would expect.
Least Solar-friendly States
The biggest surprise we found when conducting our study was how poorly the lowest states ranked in each category. The two most unfriendly states for solar power are North and South Dakota. There are only three megawatts of solar power between them, with North Dakota only possessing one and South Dakota the other two. North Dakota’s single megawatt worth of panels contribute enough energy to power only 113 homes, and South Dakota’s two only power 213. Unsurprisingly, these states also contribute the least amount of funds toward solar power in the entire country, with North Dakota only spending $2 billion and South Dakota $4 billion.
The next three entries on the list of least solar-friendly states go to Alaska with 15 megawatts worth of installations, West Virginia at 20, and Nebraska at 73. The jump from number two to three on this list is significant, as Alaska contributes $32 billion toward solar power, nearly 10 times more than South Dakota. Funding amounts become even more extreme when you compare the number one spot with number five, as Nebraska contributes $91 billion to its solar industry, over 45 times the amount of North Dakota.
Rounding out the 10 least solar-friendly states are Kansas at 97 megawatts worth of solar panels, Wyoming at 143, Oklahoma at 93, Kentucky at 74, and Louisiana at 208. Unfortunately, none of these states offer solar incentives. Worse yet, some states on this list, like Oklahoma, actually fine residents who utilize solar power. In 2014, Oklahoma signed HB 1456, which mandated that utility companies apply an additional tax to any household using solar or wind energy.
The Data
Below are the results of our study. You can sort the table by category or search for your state directly.
State | Rank | Population | Solar installation 2022 (megawatts) | Number of Residences Powered by Solar in 2022 | Percent of State’s Total Electricity | Money Invested in Solar | Tax Incentives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 1 | 38,959,247 | 35,950 | 8,548,370 | 23.6 | $73,700,000,000 | no |
Massachusetts | 2 | 6,962,372 | 3,927 | 545,258 | 18.5 | $9,100,000,000 | yes |
Arizona | 3 | 7,408,017 | 5,743 | 810,751 | 8 | $13,900,000,000 | yes |
Hawaii | 4 | 1,433,336 | 1,477 | 356,477 | 17 | $3,400,000,000 | yes |
Nevada | 5 | 3,201,212 | 4,967 | 672,070 | 15.3 | $7,800,000,000 | no |
Texas | 6 | 29,947,238 | 13,947 | 1,082,407 | 2.3 | $11,200,000,000 | no |
North Carolina | 7 | 10,678,831 | 7,935 | 859,707 | 7.5 | $10,100,000,000 | no |
Florida | 8 | 22,040,323 | 9,012 | 842,897 | 3.4 | $9,600,000,000 | no |
Utah | 9 | 3,426,431 | 2,616 | 442,889 | 8.3 | $3,500,000,000 | yes |
New Jersey | 10 | 9,242,109 | 3,992 | 586,709 | 6.6 | $14,800,000,000 | no |
New York | 11 | 19,415,392 | 3,586 | 474,848 | 2.7 | $7,000,000,000 | yes |
Vermont | 12 | 647,378 | 401 | 69,026 | 14.5 | $729,000,000 | no |
New Mexico | 13 | 2,113,550 | 1,289 | 287,628 | 6.1 | $2,300,000,000 | yes |
South Carolina | 14 | 5,259,222 | 1,936 | 222,247 | 2.4 | $2,300,000,000 | yes |
Georgia | 15 | 10,852,484 | 4,299 | 359,160 | 3.5 | $3,700,000,000 | no |
Idaho | 16 | 1,981,332 | 608 | 79,587 | 3.5 | $817,000,000 | yes |
Colorado | 17 | 5,855,078 | 2,236 | 340,720 | 4.1 | $4,300,000,000 | no |
Maryland | 18 | 6,157,731 | 1,459 | 153,463 | 4.3 | $3,900,000,000 | no |
Virginia | 19 | 8,662,151 | 3,790 | 280,993 | 2 | $2,800,000,000 | no |
Rhode Island | 20 | 1,094,843 | 576 | 73,698 | 6.6 | $644,000,000 | no |
Minnesota | 21 | 5,702,253 | 1,700 | 215,771 | 3.4 | $2,400,000,000 | no |
Iowa | 22 | 3,196,911 | 510 | 54,792 | 0.5 | $568,000,000 | yes |
Montana | 23 | 1,125,473 | 125 | 16,699 | 0.3 | $160,000,000 | yes |
Connecticut | 24 | 3,609,924 | 1,131 | 130,963 | 2.4 | $2,400,000,000 | no |
Oregon | 25 | 4,259,743 | 1,293 | 144,197 | 2.3 | $1,800,000,000 | no |
Delaware | 26 | 1,012,615 | 171 | 18,101 | 3.9 | $504,000,000 | no |
Pennsylvania | 27 | 12,916,089 | 936 | 96,859 | 0.4 | $2,900,000,000 | no |
Illinois | 28 | 12,518,144 | 1,465 | 89,781 | 0.4 | $1,400,000,000 | no |
Indiana | 29 | 6,831,167 | 1,366 | 111,763 | 0.7 | $1,200,000,000 | no |
Ohio | 30 | 11,767,059 | 890 | 63,137 | 0.4 | $1,300,000,000 | no |
Michigan | 31 | 10,032,720 | 927 | 83,045 | 0.4 | $714,000,000 | no |
Wisconsin | 32 | 5,903,573 | 855 | 71,572 | 0.5 | $644,000,000 | no |
Tennessee | 33 | 7,059,618 | 608 | 35,968 | 0.6 | $877,000,000 | no |
Maine | 34 | 1,381,441 | 486 | 44,523 | 1.4 | $349,000,000 | no |
Missouri | 35 | 6,180,523 | 358 | 33,187 | 0.7 | $774,000,000 | no |
Arkansas | 36 | 3,042,231 | 579 | 43,550 | 0.8 | $486,000,000 | no |
Washington | 37 | 7,765,004 | 314 | 25,938 | 0.3 | $707,000,000 | no |
Alabama | 38 | 5,056,005 | 578 | 30,531 | 0.3 | $341,000,000 | no |
Mississippi | 39 | 2,940,820 | 320 | 34,294 | 0.7 | $354,000,000 | no |
New Hampshire | 40 | 1,405,243 | 175 | 21,763 | 1 | $351,000,000 | no |
Louisiana | 41 | 4,576,882 | 208 | 18,248 | 0.4 | $465,000,000 | no |
Kentucky | 42 | 4,519,315 | 74 | 6,241 | 0.2 | $116,000,000 | no |
Oklahoma | 43 | 4,018,931 | 93 | 9,557 | 0.1 | $131,000,000 | no |
Wyoming | 44 | 581,813 | 143 | 22,382 | 0.4 | $153,000,000 | no |
Kansas | 45 | 2,928,419 | 97 | 12,559 | 0.2 | $134,000,000 | no |
Nebraska | 46 | 1,966,441 | 73 | 7,931 | 0.2 | $91,000,000 | no |
West Virginia | 47 | 1,773,866 | 20 | 1,134 | 0.03 | $33,000,000 | no |
Alaska | 48 | 731,721 | 15 | 1,496 | 0.1 | $32,000,000 | no |
South Dakota | 49 | 905,404 | 2 | 213 | 0.02 | $4,000,000 | no |
North Dakota | 50 | 770,221 | 1 | 113 | 0 | $2,000,000 | no |
Final Thoughts
The states at the top of this list possess robust solar programs while encouraging their residents to invest in green energy. The most prosperous are also those situated in regions with large amounts of sunlight, making solar energy more efficient for residents. Overall, the future of solar energy looks bright, as the popularity of this renewable energy is only increasing.
As solar energy becomes more efficient and less costly, it seems likely that even fossil fuel-reliant states will begin to adopt solar power. For example, states like Florida, which resisted solar power for years, eventually turned over a new leaf, embracing this technology in the late 2010s. With this in mind, it’s hard not to be optimistic about the future of solar energy in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Areas of the U.S. Receive the Most Sunlight?
The Southwestern portion of the United States receives the most sun on average, specifically in states like Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. While in the Southeast, Florida also receives a lot of sunlight.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
A full solar power system can cost anywhere from $5,000 to over $40,000. Most homes can be fully powered with a solar power system costing around $16,000.
How Many Solar Panels Does it Take to Power a Home?
Depending on your home size and power requirements, you’ll typically need between 20 to 24 solar panels in a system to keep your home powered. Factors like area, weather, season, and appliance usage can affect this number.
Are Solar Panels Affordable?
For most households to afford solar panels, they’ll need to take advantage of the Federal Solar Tax Credit Program alongside local incentives like state tax credits, rebates, sales tax reductions, property tax deferments, and net metering. State incentives vary significantly across the country, and homeowners should research these programs before investing in solar.
Methodology
To find the most and least solar-friendly states, we analyzed solar data from SEIA and Choose Energy among other sources listed below. We analyzed data for 50 states in 2022. We used factors such as population, installation quantity, investment in solar programs, percentage of energy covered by solar, the number of residences powered by solar, and tax incentives in each state to rank the states with the most solar-friendly foundations.
Sources
- Environmentamerica.org, Shining Cities 2022
- Ecowatch.com, These 10 States Are Leading Solar Energy Installation in 2022
- Environmentamerica.org, Tell The Home Depot: Preserve the boreal forest
- Seia.org,Solar State by State
- Chooseenergy.com, Solar energy generation by state
- Chooseenergy.com, Best and worst states ranked for solar industry growth
- Saveonenergy.com, Solar Energy Generation by State
- Seia.org, Solar Market Insight Report 2022 Q2
