Energy production from renewable sources continues to expand in the US at a rapid clip, thanks in no small part to the substantial growth of solar energy — and distributed solar in particular — in recent years. More states than ever are making solar a priority. But where have these gains been greatest, and what are the economic implications for residents from one state to the next?
Much has changed in the national solar market since an earlier analysis of the market and policy landscape in 2014. The solar market as a whole has continued to grow, and small-scale systems are proving to be better deals for communities than larger ones. So, compared with previous rankings of solar capacity, do states that allow third-party leases and power purchase agreements still dominate?
New figures from GTM Research have revealed that, of the 1.2 gigawatts of residential solar installed in the US in 2014, 72% was third-party owned. GTM Research’s latest report, US Residential Solar Financing 2015–2020, explored the current and future residential solar market. The US residential solar market has grown 15 out of the … [continued]
