Exploring Solar Power USA

Solar power USA is the world's third largest solar market in the renewable energy world after China and Germany. Many states have set specific alternative energy production goals. As an example, the utility companies in California are required to use renewable energy sources to produce 20 percent of their power by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020.

Solar energy USA is one of major sources of renewable energy in the country. Solar industry has seen a lot of growth in the past few years due to the passing of federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. This act enables commercial and residential people to take advantage of federal tax credits at their respective settings.

At the state level, growing implementation of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) now requires the utility companies to state a percentage of their power from renewable sources. This is definitely driving the growth of solar energy among all the renewable energy sources. States where RPS is in place have seen a growth of Solar PV market demand from 17% of on-grid demand in 2009 to 31% in 2010. California continued to be the dominant US state in terms of solar PV demand, though its share of the market dropped from 50% in 2009 to 30% in 2010. New Jersey, Arizona and Colorado ranked second, third and fourth, respectively in solar power USA. Click here for more information on state (RPS).

Click here for solar energy information

Individual state sponsored development programs also support these tax credits. The most ambitious development programs are in California and in the northeastern states.

Click here for solar rebates information

Many states are investing in solar industry but the most growth has been in California which is the largest market in solar power USA. The California State energy law of August 2006, California was passed with a goal of 3,000 MW of solar energy by 2017 (which will be 20 percent of their retail electricity sales) and to promote residential and commercial solar installations.

Here is a list of projects that have been approved so far:

City of Palmdale Hybrid Gas-Solar (570 MW)City of Palmdale

Rice Solar Energy Project(150 MW)Rice Solar LLC / SolarReserve LLC

Solar Millennium Palen (500 MW)Solar Millennium LLC

Calico Solar Project (Formerly SES Solar One Project) (663.5 MW)Calico Solar LLC/Tessera Solar (formerly Stirling Energy Systems)

Genesis Solar (250 MW)Genesis Solar LLC / NextEra™ Energy Resources LLC

Imperial Valley Solar Project (Formerly SES Solar Two Project) (709 MW)Imperial Valley Solar LLC

Similar Projects are being implemented in other countries such as China and India.

China Solar Energy information | Solar Energy India information

Therefore, solar power USA is gaining momentum by a number of projects proposed by major players in the field. One of these project is proposed by BrighSource (a company backed by Google, French energy company Alstom, Morgan Stanley, Chevron, and NRG Energy and has filed for a $250-million initial public offering). The project plans to get started in the second half of 2012 and will be creating electricity by 2015. It is proposed to be built over 5 square miles of private land in the Majave Desert in California and plans to produce 500-megawatt.

The United States government has provided various various incentives in place to encourage the growth of solar energy USA. If you decide to install solar panels at your premise, click here to to find a list of state incentives.

Please know that the equipment you choose install in order to take advantage of these incentives has to be approved by the approving agency. As an example, Xcel power company in Colorado requires that you choose the equipment from the eligible list.

Click here to find a list of eligible equipments.

Therefore, solar power USA is worth exploring whether you are interested it using in your own home or commercial setting, interested in pursuing solar energy education and career, or want to invest in solar energy sector due to growth in global sector such as India and China.

Go to Alt Energy International from Solar Power USA

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