How Much Does Energy Policy in the Golden State Carry Beyond Its Borders?
California has been in the lead for just about every metric that measures home solar adoption and installation since the beginning of the solar installation industry. California has also led the nation when it comes to utility-scale solar projects, solar storage, and policy initiatives that push solar as a viable alternative to our continued reliance on fossil fuels.
There is an old adage that states, “as California goes, so goes the nation.” Given the growing dangers associated with climate change and the ongoing impact of the carbon released through our consumption of coal, oil, and other fossil fuels, there may be some hope that the rest of the US will follow California’s lead on clean energy. But, is California truly influencing other states to adopt more solar power?
The California Solar Effect Beyond California
Last year, California took the step to require that all new homes of certain types be equipped with rooftop solar from the very beginning. Is this likely to extend to other states? Most energy wonks and political pundits say “no.” For most, if not all states, this would be too radical a step at this time.
Though many states in the west have seen solar adoption surging as the price of installation has come down, this may have much more to do with the price coming down than it has to do with other states looking to California for leadership.
Looking Beyond the West for Solar Growth
Likewise, other states in the east, and even some progressive or liberal states in the midwest have also seen a marked rise in solar power installations over the last decade. New York, for example, despite not being exactly known for its sunny climate, has seen a major increase in its solar installation market. New York is also not the only “blue state” in which solar has been surging.
Blue states, with progressive energy policies that help to offset the upfront costs of solar installation and (in many cases) support net metering and other solar-friendly programs, are seeing the biggest gains in solar.
So What About the “Red States?”
But it’s not just the “blue states” that are going solar as the price comes down. While the incentives that make solar easier to support in progressive states aren’t as robust in the so-called “red states,” other market factors are driving solar adoption to the point where Texas, North Carolina, and Arizona are in the top five along with “blue” California, and “gray” Nevada.
Building on California’s Drive to Adopt Solar
It is difficult to calculate the exact effect that green energy policies enacted in one state may have on their neighbors or on other states across the country. While some of the solar-forward policies that California has pioneered over the last few decades have spread to other states around the country, making the claim that other states are trying to keep up with the Golden State can be a bit challenging.
Hopefully, many more states will enact something similar to the solar mandate, as California has, and with a little bit of luck, many may also strive to move to 100% renewable energy, as well. For now, California stands as an example of what can be done to drive solar into the marketplace.