REPORT: Texas becomes top solar state, outpacing California
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TEXAS (KXAN) — Texas exceeded California in the second quarter of 2024 to become the top solar state, according to a quarterly market report from the American Clean Power Association.
The report's findings noted the Lone Star State ranked first for clean power installations in the second quarter of this year, bringing online nearly 2,600 megawatts worth of solar, wind and storage capacity. Texas' clean energy additives included 1.6 gigawatts of new solar, 574 megawatts of storage and 366 megawatts of onshore wind, per the report.
In California, the state added more than 1,900 megawatts of new clean power capacity in the second quarter, primarily in energy storage. California's clean energy development behavior has leaned more toward increased storage levels, the report found, adding storage amounted to 60% of California's year-to-date clean power installations.
Arizona ranked third in the country during the same timespan, installing more than 1,300 megawatts of clean power in the second quarter. Its primary clean power installation was storage, with 560 megawatts brought online.
Rounding out the top five were Ohio and Indiana with 750 and 690 megawatts, per the report. Findings revealed 32 states and Washington, D.C. brought online new clean power capacity levels in the second quarter of 2024, a marked increase from 27 states that added capacity in the first quarter of the year.
When looking at clean power construction projects nationally, Texas again led in production levels, with more than 19,000 megawatts worth of clean power energy under construction. Following in its ranks included:
- California: 7,101 megawatts
- New Mexico: 4,780 megawatts
- Virginia: 4,036 megawatts
- Arizona: 4,019 megawatts
Overall, Texas had the highest volume of clean power development capacity in the second quarter, with more than 28,000 megawatts. Overall, nearly 163,000 megawatts of capacity are in the works across the country.
More findings from the report are available online.