What is the Best State to Sell Solar in?
As the popularity and necessity for renewable energy sources continue to grow, solar power has become a priority for many households and businesses across the country. While some people are still concerned about local regulations and the upfront costs, several states have incentivized solar installations, and steps are being taken to make the industry grow. This makes these states a better option to sell solar in as compared to others.
Here, we have shortlisted the best states to sell solar based on a few factors. These include solar policies, market conditions, and industry incentives. So, before you set out for a solar lead generation, make sure you know what states you should target to make the most of your investment.
The Best State to Sell Solar
Whether you are targeting residential solar or looking for commercial solar clients, California remains the best state for selling solar. The state is more solar energy friendly than all other states in the US. The state not only offers 150 sunny days a year, but it has a robust solar system and a booming job market with a lot of investment opportunities. That certainly makes California the best US state to sell solar in.
Promising Industry Growth Outlook for the Next 5 Years
In fact, it was the first state where the solar industry was nurtured in the US, and it caters to more than 28% of the total installed capacity of the country. The solar PV capacity of the state is sufficient for powering more than 10 million residential units. The SEIA data shows that around 2,000 solar companies are operating in California, creating more than 75,000 jobs. According to this data, the industry’s growth outlook is also quite promising, and the project pipeline for the next 5 years is around 25GW.
Most Solar-Powered Homes in Any State Across The U.S.
California also tops the list of states that have the most solar-powered homes, with 10,510,648 homes using solar power currently. It’s not surprising at all if you consider the fact that California is the most populous state in the US. Other states with the most solar-powered homes after California include Texas and Florida.
Most Solar Sophisticated State In The Country
In addition, California is also the best US state when it comes to solar sophistication. It currently has 38,145 megawatts installed, the most across the country. It makes up 27.3% of all the energy needs of the state.
Incentivized Electricity Price To Grow Solar
Furthermore, the electricity price for commercial buildings in the state is 24.62 cents/kWh as per recent US EIA data. It’s also a significant incentive to opt for solar besides the abundant sunshine the state receives.
Other Top States To Sell Solar In The US
Several other states are competing well with California to be among the top US states to have a conducive solar market. They are headed in the right direction, supporting solar energy and its utilization in the residential and commercial markets. Arizona, for example, is among the sunniest US states, and it has already crossed over a million solar-powered homes.
Let’s run you through other top states with immense potential for solar leads generation and selling residential solar.
1. Florida
In recent years, Florida has come a long way to become one of the top solar states in the US. It’s been continuously among the top 3 for some time now, alongside California and Texas. While Florida generates only 5% of its total electricity using solar energy, its growth outlook is quite promising—around 11 GW in the next 5 years.
Even though electricity prices in the state are relatively low, photovoltaic technology is still very cost-effective thanks to a favorable tax regime and the abundant availability of solar resources.
2. Texas
In recent years, Texas has added to its solar PV capacity and has a quite promising growth outlook for solar in the short run. Its 40 GW project pipeline is 15 GW above that of California. The electricity market in Texas is deregulated, and some major incentive programs are on offer for solar power.
The budget for Oncor solar incentive was $1,348,950 for the residential markets and $2,038,440 for the commercial markets in 2022. Being among the top 3 for some time now, the solar market in Texas is growing and opening up a lot of new opportunities for new sellers.
3. Nevada
Since 2021, the solar outlook of Nevada has improved continuously. The acceleration of the solar industry has led Nevada to climb to the 4th spot from 10th in the SEIA rankings. With a project pipeline of more than 7.7 GW in the next 5 years, Nevada’s solar industry is expected to see 150% growth in its current capacity.
Net metering was banned in 2015 in Nevada, causing a major slump in the local solar market. However, it was restored a couple of years later as the regulators realized the importance of the net metering policies.
4. Arizona
Arizona has also invested heavily in the solar industry in recent years and has become one of the top solar markets in the US. The solar investments in the state have reached over $14.3 billion. This dedicated attention toward the solar industry seems to be paying off well, as 10% of Arizona’s total electricity is now produced with solar energy.
The state is extremely sunny and usually gets more sunny days than all other states in the country. Therefore, it’s certainly one of the best places to go solar and sell solar panels. Around 6087 MW have already been installed in Arizona, powering 953,394 homes in the state.
Conclusion
Many US states have joined the solar revolution over the years, and there are many emerging markets for solar installers to explore. However, if you ask for the best state to sell solar in, California easily outranks all other US states. The state has made huge strides toward using solar power in both residential and commercial markets. There are a lot of opportunities to explore in California for new solar installers.
