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United States Solar Boom
Lighting the Way: The USA’s Solar Boom, EnergyMatters.com
The Environment New York Research & Policy Center has released a report stating that over the last decade the United States capacity for solar PV has grown from 97 megawatts (1993) to 12,000 megawatts (2013). The report states that the Top Ten states with the most solar electricity installed per capita by end of 2013 were Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachussetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico and North Carolina.
- The sharp drop in installation costs and increase in solar friendly policies have contributed to the solar growth seen within the United States.
- Solar industry growth has created solar jobs; in 2013 there were 140,000 solar workers in the United States, a higher number than coal miners.
- The Center recommends that the entire U.S. follow the lead of the Top Ten states and work to get at least 10% of its energy from the sun by 2030.