The US Energy Information Administration say California has led the country in solar energy production last year.

California is the first state to generate over 5% of it’s power with solar projects.

Combined with the other renewable energy sources tho state is on track to meet it’s 2020 goals.

California has a huge lead over the rest of the country.

“In 2014 utility-scale solar projects in California generated more than three times the output of the second-highest state, Arizona, and more than all other states combined. Several extremely large plants led the way in what was a bumper year for solar in California, including two 550 megawatt solar photovoltaic plants, Topaz and Desert Sunlight, and the 377 MW Ivanpah and 250 MW Genesis solar thermal plants.

California added about 3,550 MW of new solar in 2014, according to a recent report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association, a number that accounts for more than half of the 6,200 MW added across the country. Of these 3,550 MW, more than half — some 1,900 MW — came from utility-scale projects.”

 

“The top three states in large-scale solar generation in 2014 — California, Arizona, and Nevada — are some of the most sun-drenched in the country, but their progressive renewable energy policies also played a major role in the solar build-out. As EIA reports, nine out of the top 10 states have Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), including New Jersey and Massachusetts — smaller states not known for their solar potential.

In 2014, California got 22 percent of its electricity from non-hydropower renewables, putting it on track to reach its RPS requirement that electricity providers get 33 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. State leaders like Democratic Governor Jerry Brown are already looking beyond this target: Brown recently said he wants California to use 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.”

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