The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has compiled its annual list of top solar states, and California is head of the class. The rankings are based on total capacity – across residential, utility, and non-residential – installed.
California leads in total MW installed at 51,909 MW, which provides more than 30 percent of the state’s electricity. Texas was the overall leader in installed capacity in 2024 with 11,627 MW installed just in one year and now has an overall installed capacity of 41,459 MW, putting it second in the rankings behind California. Florida is third at 18,622 MW. Arizona and North Carolina round out the top five rankings.
SEIA calculated California’s solar market to be worth $111.9 billion dollars, more than double Texas’s $50.1 billion. Texas invested $14.4 billion in solar in 2024, while California invested $8.7 billion.
California also ranks first with more than 80,000 solar jobs, more than four times the next closest: Florida at 14,108 and Texas at 12, 421.
SEIA reports that 33 states now have more than 1 GW of solar capacity, which is up from just three states 10 years ago.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
