The State of Solar: 2019 Year in Review

As we kick off a new year, we’re taking some time to reflect on some of the most notable developments for solar and renewable energy in 2019! Solar has continued to positively impact Arizonans, as well as people around the country and world. The use of this clean energy just keeps growing as technologies advance, prices drop, and more residents, businesses, and governments recognize its many benefits.

Arizona:
Arizona remained in the top ten states in the nation for solar installations in 2019! Our sunny state added capacity in all sectors of the industry, but shined the brightest when it came to residential installation. The third quarter of 2019 was where we saw the most solar action, and in this time frame we ranked 3rd for solar capacity nationwide. Within the last five years, the state has seen solar prices fall by 36%. A total of 7,524 jobs were created in the solar industry in Arizona this year, and there were a total of 147,451 installations across the state! 

AriSEIA and other organizations continue to work across the state to create economically and environmentally beneficial policies so that solar continues to grow. We saw a few major victories in 2019, including an encouraging PURPA decision, a long-awaited victory for interconnection rules, and the successful waiving of property taxes in counties and cities through HB 2493 to help make solar stronger in our sunny state. 

Nationwide:
The solar industry continued to grow across the entire nation in 2019. During the third quarter of the year, the U.S. in total saw an impressive 712 megawatts of solar installed. A record number of jobs were added, and we celebrated a milestone of 2 million solar installations across the nation. 

This year saw many important policy decisions, including those surrounding the extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Unfortunately, Congress was unable to agree on including a full extension of the ITC in the year-end tax package, meaning the credit will decrease slightly from its original 30% in 2020. Though we are disappointed by the missed opportunity to preserve the full benefits of this important policy, we remain extremely hopeful for the future growth of solar across the country.

Looking Forward:
In the new year, we hope you stay up-to-date with Arizona’s propositions and policies regarding solar energy to help ensure a more affordable and efficient energy future in the state. We’ve had a great year, but there’s still so much room to grow!

Is going solar one of your resolutions for 2020? To install solar on your home or business with an ethical, efficient and affordable company, contact SunHarvest today.