Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

2016 US Solar Capacity By State Recap

Renewable Energy World: 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.

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