Nevada has to make the Top 10 List for some things for sure! How about Entertainment Capital of the World? Definitely! Fastest growing cities in the U.S.?

You know we’re on it! How about “one of the top solar states”? Correct!

Florida’s state motto is “the Sunshine State” and yet gets 115 days of rain! Put them down the list of top places for solar power for sure! So, how do we Nevadans stack up for the best in solar power? Can you say, “Pretty good”?

The state of Nevada runs the gamut in weather, from severe desert drought to semi-arid climate. And in some higher elevations we enjoy an alpine climate. That means as a state we do pretty well when it comes to sunshine, solar radiation, and ranking on a best of list for solar power.

The southernmost part of the state lies within the Mojave Desert. The Mojave is a vast dry area stretching across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.

Sometimes called “the high desert,” its elevation ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. Desert of course means no rain, few clouds, high heat, and lots of sunshine. In the case of the Mojave, annual rain averages are only 2 to 6 inches.

Las Vegas and the large tip of southern Nevada lie well within the borders of the Mojave Desert. Vegas has annual precipitation of only 4 inches. By comparison, everyone thinks of Phoenix as being in the desert, and they get 9.2 inches of moisture per year.

Now the farther north you go in Nevada, the more it rains or snows. The southern part of the state averages 5 inches of precipitation per year, while the northern part sees 12 inches.

In 2020 Las Vegas went 240 days without a drop of rain! On average, southern Nevada gets 26 days of rain and 294 days of sunshine.

Take that, Florida! No rain means the sun shines a lot more here than in the so-called sunshine state! (For you mathematicians, the remaining 45 or so days tend to fall solidly under the “partly cloudy” classification.)

So, what are the Top 10 states most conducive for solar power?

Top 10 states for per capita solar power production are:

According to Solar Power Guide, right now the rank of the current Top 10 states for per capita solar power production are:

1.Hawaii
2.California
3.Arizona
4.Nevada
5.Massachusetts
6.New Jersey
7.Vermont
8.Connecticut
9.Utah
10.Colorado

Currently, Nevada is 4th on the Solar Power Guide* list. We are a very progressive state when it comes to solar energy. We have major hotel/casinos that are almost totally self-sufficient on solar.

For example, a year ago the MGM Grand threw the switch on a 100 mega-watt solar array designed to furnish power to 13 casino properties and roughly 36,000 hotel rooms. And when it comes to residential solar power, almost 675,000 Nevada residences already have it.

And Nevada is not home of one of Tesla’s Giga factories for nothing! We’re kind of proud of that!

But here’s what’s interesting. With our wide-open landscape, relatively low population, and continuing dedication to solar power, you will see us climbing up the list. The facts that the desert southwest has been mired in a severe 100-year drought and that both Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at historic lows and potentially facing cutbacks in hydroelectric production, eyes are turning more and more toward solar power.

rural solar states usa

Rural Solar Installations

Looking into a Vegas solar company and Las Vegas solar installers?

Especially the financial aspects such as tax incentives and support programs and to lower your electric bills then contact Sol-Up Solar for complete and timely information. With years of experience in cutting-edge solar technology in both southern and northern Nevada, you can rely on them for the best information, the best guidance, and the best prices.

By the way, just for fun,

Here are the 10 worst performing states for solar power installations:

  1. Indiana
  2. Kentucky
  3. Tennessee
  4. Kansas
  5. Mississippi
  6. Georgia 
  7. West Virginia
  8. South Dakota
  9. Alabama
  10. North Dakota

 

*The Solar Industries Association has Nevada ranked 6th. Click here for more information. Top 10 Solar States | SEIA 

 

Sol-Up is a professional solar panel installation and consultant company based in Nevada , U.S.A. Our Solar Blog gives expert advice and the latest information on the solar industry.

 

This article was originally published on Sol-Up Blog 

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