WASHINGTON, DC – Showing strength in all market sectors, Connecticut ranked 16th in the nation in installed solar capacity last year, according to the recently-released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review.Â
In 2014, Connecticut added 45 megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity, bringing its total to 119 MW. That’s enough clean, affordable energy to power nearly 20,000 homes. The report went on to point out that Connecticut’s biggest solar gains came in commercial installations, but residential installations increased, as well. Of the new capacity added, 21 MW were commercial, 17 MW were residential and 7 MW were utility scale. Together, these installations represented a $121 million investment across Connecticut.
From an environmental perspective, solar also helped to offset nearly 100,000 metric tons of harmful carbon emissions last year in Connecticut – the equivalent of removing more than 20,000 cars off the state’s roads and highways.
“To put the state’s solar growth in some context, the 119 MW of solar PV installed today in Connecticut is nearly as much as the entire country had installed by 2004. And frankly, the state is just scratching the surface of its enormous potential,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “Looking forward, we expect 2016 to be the best year ever for new PV installations across the state, with more than 50 MW in new projects expected to come online.”
Today, there are 135 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in Connecticut, employing more than 1,600 people. Notable solar projects in Connecticut include:
In addition to a growing commercial sector, the Connecticut residential market also showed impressive gains last year, with installed system prices dropping by 8 percent – and down a total of 49 percent since 2010. Nationwide, the U.S. residential market added 1.2 GW of installed capacity in 2014, marking the first time that this growing sector surpassed 1 GW of clean, affordable solar. Residential also continues to be the fastest-growing market segment in the U.S., with 2014 marking three consecutive years of greater than 50 percent annual growth.
“Today, the U.S. solar industry employs 174,000 Americans nationwide – more than tech giants Apple, Google, Facebook and Twitter combined – and pumps nearly $18 billion a year into our economy,” Resch added. “This remarkable growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for both the U.S. and Connecticut economies, as well as for our environment.”
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About SEIA®:
Celebrating its 41st anniversary in 2015, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.
Media Contacts:
Ken Johnson, SEIA Vice President of Communications, kjohnson@seia.org (202) 556-2885
Alex Hobson, SEIA Press Officer & Communications Manager, ahobson@seia.org (202) 556-2886