A recent report funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) examines the economics of solar installations on a state-by-state basis. The study takes into account each state’s typical electricity costs, incentive programs, and solar resources.

In New York, the top-rated state, a solar power system can cost as much as $13,556 per kilowatt of capacity and still pay for itself over its expected service life. In Kentucky, the lowest-ranked state, system cost needs to be reduced to $1,200 per kilowatt for the system to pay for itself. The report, “Customer-Sited Photovoltaics: State Market Analysis,” is available on the Interstate Renewable Energy Council website, www.irecusa.org.

— Greg Mazurkiewicz

Publication date: 08/19/2002