There are plenty of states where solar power usage is growing, but when it comes to loving solar power California is its biggest fan. California is home to the world’s largest solar power installation, and there are countless bay area solar companies that have popped up over the past few decades. It looks like The Golden State managed to discover an energy trend a little earlier than other states. The solar power industry in the United States reached a historic milestone this past March. According to a report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, solar energy accounted for 100% of new utility electricity generation added to the country’s power grid in March.
This is the first time that solar power, or any renewable energy source, has accounted for the entirety of energy growth in a month. If these trends continue, homes that utilize alternative energy will be the norm. There are a variety of reasons why a home owner would want their homes to harness the power of the sun, but these next few reasons may be enough to convince you that it’s time to install some solar panels on your roof.
There’s More Affordable Solar Energy Options Available
One of the main arguments against solar power used to be its high cost. When solar power first became popular in the 1960s and 1970s solar power technology wasn’t nearly as advanced as it was today, so panel manufacturing and installation was extremely expensive. Budget conscious and environmentally friendly home owners will be excited to hear that the average cost of a solar power photovoltaic system dropped by 27% over the past year, and the average price of a photovoltaic solar panel has decreased by 60% since 2011.
You Can Help the Job Market and Economy
Purchasing a solar power system for your home could do a lot to help the economy and job growth. The demand for solar power has created a need for electrical engineers, construction workers, and other skilled workers. According to the Solar Job Census conducted by The Solar Foundation, there were more than 119,000 solar workers in the United States in 2012. The field of solar energy saw a 13.2% increase in employment totals in 2011, and those numbers show that the industry is growing at a rapid pace. The value of solar panel systems has also increased over the past few years. In 2010 solar installations made $6 billion, and in 2012 the amount nearly doubled to $11.5 billion.
You Could Be Preparing for the Energy Efficient Future
The city of Lancaster, CA has been in the news lately because of the solar ambitions of their mayor R. Rex Parris. Parris made history with his decree that all newly built buildings in the city must have solar panels to generate electricity, and so far Lancaster is the only city in the US with this energy mandate. His new law won’t go into effect until January 1st 2014, but it could provide a glimpse into the country’s energy future. States around the country are making major leaps and bounds in the field of solar energy. New Jersey recently became the third state in the United States to pass the 1 gigawatt mark in total installed solar capacity, and solar energy consumption in both North and South Carolina has been growing rapidly. There are solar energy farms popping up in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, it’s clear that solar power usage is on the immediate rise. If you install solar panels on your roof you won’t just be saving money on energy bills and consuming environmentally friendly energy, you could also be ahead of a popular trend.