By Theresa Ficazzola
Despite the pandemic, U.S. solar power continued to grow in 2020, up 1% from 2019, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA’s) Year-in-Review Report. The U.S. solar industry grew 43% and installed a record 19.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity in 2020, it’s largest year on record, the Report stated.
Even though solar installations slowed in the second quarter of 2020 due to Covid-19, the 8GWdc of new installations in the fourth quarter was the largest quarter in U.S. solar history.
In 2020, residential solar deployment was up 11% from 2019, reaching a record 3.1 GW. Despite the lockdown last year, a new solar project was installed every 75 seconds.
The top 5 states for annual solar capacity, according to the SEIA are:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Virginia
- North Carolina
New York ranked 7th and New Jersey came in at #10 for solar panel installations.
The SEIA also reported that: The United States currently has 97.2 gigawatts of solar capacity installed, reducing carbon emissions by 110 million metric tons annually. That’s the equivalent of:
- taking 24 million vehicles off the road
- saving 12 billion gallons of gas
- or planting 2 billion trees
The Biden administration supports a clean energy economy, which will not only further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also create thousands of new green energy jobs. However, more specific legislation is needed to support the industry and move it further along at a faster pace.
The solar industry would like to see solar account for 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030. However, for that to happen, the SEIA estimates that the industry would need to employ 600,000 workers and boost U.S. installations three times greater than what has been installed since solar began.
You can do your part to help the country achieve the solar industry’s 20% goal by installing solar panels on your home in New York or New Jersey.
At SI Solar, it’s as easy as 1-2-3. Just answer a few simple questions, and we do all the work for you – from your free no obligation solar assessment, to permits, to installation, to turning on your system, to monthly monitoring.
Call us at SI Solar today at 844-747-6527 during our Summer Solar Sale and receive $500 off a complete rooftop solar power system for your home in NY or NJ. Offer expires Labor Day 2021.
