Solar power has been a rapidly growing industry for years – especially in California. And lately, a handful of other states have jumped on the wagon and are offering incentives to go solar – proving that the solar industry will not only continue to grow in 2020 but likely expand even further. Still, California stays the number one solar state in the country.
The Flourishing Five
California has been ahead of the game for years when it comes to solar, so it can hardly be a surprise that The Golden State continues to lead the way for the rest of the country. With California as the example setter, four other states have increased the amount of residential solar panels being installed the past ten years: Arizona, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Together, these five states account for a total of two-thirds of solar capacity in the nation.
The “Flourishing Five” have benefited greatly from state-level incentives and initiatives during the last decade. Offers and encouragements that have made the solar panel investment an easier and more affordable decision for homeowners.
California in 2020: it’s all about solar homes
As the new decade began, so did California’s new home solar mandate. With kick-off in January 2020, the state now requires all new homes to come with solar – potentially the most significant step towards a greener state to date. It is estimated that this will drive demands of more than one gigawatt over the next five years – which equals the amount of residential solar the entire state of Arizona has installed up until now! It is safe to say that solar panel companies in California will keep busy in 2020.
In addition, California has introduced Public Safety Power Shutoff (temporarily turning off the electricity in areas where the weather conditions increase the risk of wildfires).
These new initiatives make the question: “Are solar panels worth it?” easy to answer according to VP of Marketing at Solar Optimum, Rainier de Ocampo:
“There is a significant shift happening in California at the moment. More people are starting to really see the benefits of solar – not only for their financial gain but for their safety and comfort as well”, said de Ocampo before continuing:
“Solar power is going to be the norm with the new mandate – and with the Public Safety Power Shutoff initiative, people want to make sure they will have power in the case of an emergency outage. That’s where solar panels for homes and home batteries come in. A solar system complete with battery storage will allow you to always have access to power – even when the electricity is down”, he concludes.
Leading the way to a greener future
Solar power is growing all over the nation. So far, California is the only state in the country to have passed a state-wide solar mandate, and whether the rest of the country will follow, only time will tell – but if the past is any indication, we can expect to see other states look to California and its solar power policies even more in the new decade.
