California vs New York - Solar Energy Comparison
CA
California
Observed Records
1,921,220
Reported Capacity
17,997 MW
Avg Cost
$4.46/W
System Size
9.4 kW
NY
New York
Observed Records
161,816
Reported Capacity
7,765 MW
Avg Cost
$4.47/W
System Size
48.0 kW
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | California | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Observed Installation Records | 1,921,220 | 161,816 |
| Reported Capacity (MW) | 17,997 | 7,765 |
| Avg Cost ($/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
What the Dataset Shows
- California has more observed records in the source dataset (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)
Record counts and reported capacity reflect coverage in the LBNL release, not an overall ranking of state solar quality. A homeowner decision also depends on roof orientation, current utility tariffs, financing and local programs.
Primary dataset: LBNL Tracking the Sun 2024 release. Values are aggregates of observed records, not complete statewide totals.