California vs New York - Solar Energy Comparison
CA
California
Installations
1,921,220
Capacity
17,997 MW
Avg Cost
$4.46/W
System Size
9.4 kW
NY
New York
Installations
161,816
Capacity
7,765 MW
Avg Cost
$4.47/W
System Size
48.0 kW
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | California | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Total Installations | 1,921,220 | 161,816 |
| Total Capacity (MW) | 17,997 | 7,765 |
| Avg Cost ($/W) | $4.46 | $4.47 |
| Median Cost ($/W) | $4.25 | $4.20 |
| Avg System Size (kW) | 9.4 | 48.0 |
| Residential % | 98% | 94% |
California - Cost Trend ($/W)
California Cost per Watt
New York - Cost Trend ($/W)
New York Cost per Watt
Verdict: Which State Is Better for Solar?
Californiaedges ahead overall
- California has more installations (1,921,220 vs 161,816)
- California has lower average cost ($4.46/W vs $4.47/W)
- California has more total capacity (17,997 MW vs 7,765 MW)
Note: The best state for solar depends on your specific situation, including roof orientation, local utility rates, and available financing.
Source: LBNL Tracking the Sun / U.S. Department of Energy