Solar Photovoltaic Adoption in the Southeastern United States
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
Solar market analysis typically focuses on states with large solar installations in the Western states, notably California, the Northeast, namely Massachusetts, and two states in the Southern US: Florida and North Carolina. Herein we examine the solar PV industry and trends in capacity, production and incentives within the Southeastern US and provide an examination of how existing solar policy has influenced penetration on a state by state basis. In particular, why some states such as South Carolina have high residential solar capacity, while neighboring states, North Carolina and Georgia have high utility-scale penetration. Incentives developed in South Carolina through legislative action have increased solar PV residential installations dramatically since 2015, while utility scale installations continue to grow in North Carolina. North Carolina has the highest growth in non-residential (commercial and industrial) and utility-scale solar PV. It was found that for the residential sector, highest solar PV growth occurs when a) the federal tax credit is augmented with a state-wide tax credit, b) enabling state laws, and c) net-metering and solar leasing programs.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-08SR22470
- OSTI ID:
- 1519112
- Report Number(s):
- SRNL-STI-2019-00287
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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