States With the Most Solar Installations per Capita

It’s clear that our planet will have to move toward renewable sources of energy in the coming years. Fossil fuels are not sustainable and are harming our environment. Among the most popular green energy sources are solar, wind, and hydro energy. The amount of solar energy available makes it one of the most popular sources of renewable energy. Solar energy in the United States is slowly gaining popularity as more homes and businesses invest in solar installations.

Solar Power Guide took a look at the number solar installations around the United States to determine which states have the most installations per 100,000 people.

Click the below image to view full-size.

States With the Most Solar Installation by Population - Solar Power Guide - Infographic

Simply copy and paste the code from the box below to share.

Which States Have the Most Solar Installations per 100,000 People?

These are the top 10 states with the most solar installations per 100,000 people:

  1. Hawaii: 6,403.31
  2. California: 3,073.65
  3. Arizona: 2,290.62
  4. Nevada: 1,931.77
  5. Massachusetts: 1,577.30
  6. New Jersey: 1,415.68
  7. Vermont: 1,412.86
  8. Connecticut: 1,392.13
  9. Utah: 1,349.00
  10. Colorado: 1,266.49

Hawaii tops the list with 6,403.31 installations per 100,000 people. It’s not surprising, as Hawaii is one of the leaders in solar power adoption. They also rank second for most megawatts installed per 100,000 people at 99.4 megawatts, making the state one of the leaders in solar generation. Coming in right behind Hawaii are other sunny western states like California, Arizona, and Nevada.

These are the top 10 states with the fewest solar installations per 100,000 people:

  1. North Dakota: 2.74
  2. Alabama: 3.17
  3. South Dakota: 4.14
  4. West Virginia: 20.11
  5. Georgia: 20.77
  6. Mississippi: 27.47
  7. Kansas: 31.95
  8. Tennessee: 37.74
  9. Kentucky: 55.03
  10. Indiana: 57.84

Which States Have the Most Megawatts Installed?

The following are the 10 states that have the highest capacity of solar megawatts installed:

  1. California: 29,218.17 megawatts
  2. Texas: 6,751.45 megawatts
  3. North Carolina: 6,486.58 megawatts
  4. Florida: 5,748.73 megawatts
  5. Arizona: 4,820.51 megawatts
  6. Nevada: 3,643.77 megawatts
  7. New Jersey: 3,471.55 megawatts
  8. Massachusetts: 2,910.40 megawatts
  9. Georgia: 2,668.08 megawatts
  10. New York: 2,482.48 megawatts

California tops the list with 29,218.17 megawatts being generated by their 1,210,035 solar installations. The state is far and away ahead of every other state in terms of megawatts installed, generating more megawatts than the next five states combined. It’s clear that solar power in California is flourishing.

How Much Does it Cost to Install Solar Panels?

Many people are put off by the up-front cost of solar panels, but in reality, they can end up saving you a lot of money over time. Google’s Project Sunroof can help calculate how much people can save with solar energy based on their location and roof space. Many people end up saving thousands of dollars over a 20-year period.

There are also solar incentives available that can make installations more affordable. The solar Investment Tax Credit allows Americans to purchase solar equipment for their home and apply the credit when they file their taxes. There are also many state incentives that can help families and businesses save money on solar installations. Anyone interested in installing solar panels should review the solar incentives by state to see how they can save more money.

Written and designed by Joe Robertson