“Shining Cities,” a recent report by Environment America, ranked the 65 largest U.S. cities based on the total amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed within the geographic limits of each city. This article from Forbes compiles a list of the 16 U.S. cities with the most solar PV installed per capita, including San Jose, San Diego, Denver, Phoenix, San Antonio, Raleigh, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
The solar power industry is in the middle of a spectacular growth spurt in the United States, especially in densely populated areas. Last year, 20 cities – representing only about 0.1% of U.S. land area – accounted for a stunning 6.5% of U.S. solar photovoltaic capacity.
The accelerated deployment of solar PV in recent years has been driven by improvements in technology, price reductions and the development of creative business models that have spurred investment in residential solar systems. As impressive as recent growth rates may seem, future growth rates are likely to be even steeper.
