California Leads Top 10 States in Adding New Solar Capacity
From Renewable Energy World on January 16, 2017
The U.S. added over 25,000 MW of new generation capacity in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Electric Generator Inventory report. Solar capacity additions reached a new record of 7,568 MW, more than double 2015 additions of 3,384. Solar capacity by state varied significantly as detailed in the analysis below.
As a percentage of total capacity, solar increased from 18 percent in 2015 to 30 percent in 2016. Note that the data includes actual additions through October with the last two months of the year based on planned additions. Of the 2016 renewable additions, nearly 60 percent were scheduled to come online during the fourth quarter. Renewable capacity additions are often highest in the final months of the year, primarily due to the timing qualifications for federal, state, or local tax incentives.
Solar, wind and natural gas accounted for over 92 percent of capacity additions. Natural gas capacity additions were boosted by the lowest natural gas prices in the last 20 years.
California accounted for over 36 percent of new solar capacity in the U.S. in 2016 with 2,749 MWs, and in total the top 10 states accounted for over 90 percent. North Carolina remain second behind California in 2016 with 708 MWs. The chart below provides the details for the top 10 states.
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