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    1022BUS Econsnapshot

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    The Dallas Morning News
    The document discusses solar electricity generation in the United States. It finds that states with higher retail electricity prices and solar subsidies tend to have more solar capacity installed, even if they receive less sunshine, because the subsidies help offset the initial costs of solar panels. While Texas has lower electricity prices than most top solar states, a UT professor notes that incentives can still drive solar adoption. The declining costs of solar panels also make them more competitive over time.

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    1022BUS Econsnapshot

    Uploaded by

    The Dallas Morning News
    397 views1 page
    The document discusses solar electricity generation in the United States. It finds that states with higher retail electricity prices and solar subsidies tend to have more solar capacity installed, even if they receive less sunshine, because the subsidies help offset the initial costs of solar panels. While Texas has lower electricity prices than most top solar states, a UT professor notes that incentives can still drive solar adoption. The declining costs of solar panels also make them more competitive over time.

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    1022BUS_econSnapshot

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    The document discusses solar electricity generation in the United States. It finds that states with higher retail electricity prices and solar subsidies tend to have more solar capacity installed, even if they receive less sunshine, because the subsidies help offset the initial costs of solar panels. While Texas has lower electricity prices than most top solar states, a UT professor notes that incentives can still drive solar adoption. The declining costs of solar panels also make them more competitive over time.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Download as pdf or txt
    397 views1 page

    1022BUS Econsnapshot

    Uploaded by

    The Dallas Morning News
    The document discusses solar electricity generation in the United States. It finds that states with higher retail electricity prices and solar subsidies tend to have more solar capacity installed, even if they receive less sunshine, because the subsidies help offset the initial costs of solar panels. While Texas has lower electricity prices than most top solar states, a UT professor notes that incentives can still drive solar adoption. The declining costs of solar panels also make them more competitive over time.

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    of 1

    LOCAL ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT | SOLAR ELECTRICITY

    Subsidies help in harnessing the sun


    By ELIZABETH SOUDER
    Staff Writer esouder@dallasnews.com

    The best place to put a solar panel is in the sunshine so long as that sunshine is in a state that offers solar subsidies. Thats why less-sunny spots in the Northeast count among the Top 10 solar installation states. Further, the Top 10 solar states have some of the highest retail electricity prices in the land. Retail electricity customers in Texas pay lower prices, on average, than customers in any of the Top 10 solar states.

    Ten states with the highest retail electricity prices


    Average price, in cents per kilowatt-hour, for Jan-July 2012: Vermont 14.2 New York 15.08 New Hampshire 14.32 Massachusetts 14.12 Rhode Island 13.02 California 13.38 Connecticut 15.58 New Jersey 13.81 Texas 8.75
    (for comparison)

    States with the most solar electricity generating capacity

    States with renewable portfolio standard requirements*

    Alaska 16.33

    Hawaii 34.38

    *Based on market-based methods to require some amount of solar electricity

    Top 12 states for solar power capacity


    Solar electricity capacity in megawatts: California New Jersey Arizona Colorado Nevada New Mexico Pennsylvania New York North Carolina Hawaii Massachusetts Texas 213 204.1 179.6 155.6 134.2 130.9 112.7 109 102.3 832.8 618.5 1,871.50

    Average price of photovoltaic cells


    The price of photovoltaic solar panels is declining. This chart shows the price per peak watt, or when the sun shines brightest. Cells, dollars per peak watt
    $3.00 $2.50 $2.00 $1.50 $1.00 50 0 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

    $2.12

    92

    SOURCES: Energy Information Administration; U.S. Solar Market Insight (GTM Research and SEIA); Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

    The bottom line


    New Jersey is a small, cloudy state and theyve got a lot more solar than Texas. If the prices are right, people want solar panels and electric cars and all these things. Michael Webber, assistant professor, mechanical engineering, University of Texas at Austin Solar installations really map where state subsidies are. Solar is still relatively expensive. So its hard to compete. But its hard for all new generation. Solar panels can help people avoid high retail electricity rates. But installation can be costly, and people in older houses ought to spend that money making the home more efficient. Elizabeth Souder, staff writer, The Dallas Morning News

    David Campbell, chief executive, Luminant, the wholesale arm of Energy Future Holdings

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