BuildFax reveals the top 20 fastest growing U.S. cities for solar activity

BuildFax, a company that delivers data-driven insights for smart property decisions, has announced today its first annual ranking of fastest growing U.S. cities for solar activity.

Solar activity across the nation increased by 29% between 2014 and 2015 alone, and has increased by more than 300% since 2010. Based on these numbers, the growth is significant. Since the popularity of this technology is relatively new, and solar projects are almost always permitted, solar stands out from the typical kinds of building upgrades that have been around for years.

“It’s so exciting to see this uptick in solar activity,” said Holly Tachovsky, CEO at BuildFax. “Especially because it’s fueled by technology, passionate people and green initiatives. We have a unique vantage point, this sort of bird’s eye view of building permits as they’re filed across the country. So we notice these trends, especially in these emerging fields.”

In a housing market that’s just as hot, solar panels can be a major selling feature, even in neighborhoods where every listed home is a great option.

“Not only does solar save homeowners money on their power bill,” said Jonathan Deesing, home solar specialist at Solar Power Authority, “but buyers are willing to pay on average $15,000 more for homes with installed solar panels. The best part is that in many states, people can install panels on their home without an upfront investment, so you don’t need a lot of cash to quickly increase your home’s resale value.”

Along those same lines, solar technology itself is getting more affordable, making it competitive with conventional energy sources. This accessibility, paired with federal and state tax incentives, rebates and financing options, make solar more popular than ever. One such program is the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which is a 30% federal tax credit that homeowners can use toward personal income taxes. Because of credits like this one, the effective cost to homeowners is expected to continue to fall even further.

In 2015, 7.3 gigawatts of solar photovoltaics were installed across the country. That’s enough energy to power 5.5 million homes. And it’s more energy than 14 coal-fired power plants combined.

There are over 200,000 Americans employed in the solar industry, and that number is expected to be 420,000 by the end of 2020. It’s estimated that $140 billion in economic activity will be the result of this resource and workforce boom. 

“It’s great to see the ongoing strength in the solar PV market,” said Michael Herzig, president and founder of Locus Energy. “From my perspective, however, what is even more amazing is how quickly this has happened. The global solar market has grown in ten short years from 2.6 gigawatts deployed in 2007 to an estimated 67 gigawatts in 2016!”

The Top 20 fastest growing US cities for solar activity are:

1. Reno, NV
2. North Las Vegas, NV
3. Henderson, NV
4. El Paso, TX
5. Baltimore, MD
6. Las Vegas, NV
7. Sacramento, CA
8. Dallas, TX
9. Stockton, CA
10. Fort Worth, TX
11. Albuquerque, NM
12. Chula Vista, CA
13. Colorado Springs, CO
14. Anaheim, CA
15. New York, NY
16. San Diego, CA
17. Fremont, CA
18. Charlotte, NC
19. Oakland, CA
20. Riverside, CA

“It’s great to see the ongoing strength in the solar PV market,” said Michael Herzig, president and founder of Locus Energy. “From my perspective, however, what is even more amazing is how quickly this has happened. The global solar market has grown in 10 short years from 2.6 gigawatts deployed in 2007 to an estimated 67 gigawatts in 2016!”

News item from BuildFax.

Solar Power World