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Solar Energy Will Lead the Way for New Power in 2016

Climate Nexus
Mar. 03, 2016 10:20AM EST Business

In 2016, for the first time ever, solar is projected to add more new capacity in the U.S. than any other type of energy. New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports 9.5 gigawatts of utility-scale solar will be added to the grid, more than three times last year’s figure. And this doesn’t take into account additional rooftop solar, which was the fastest growing segment of the solar industry last year. 

New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports 9.5 gigawatts of utility-scale solar will be added to the grid, more than three times last year’s figure. Photo credit: Wikipedia

The Solar Energy Industries Association expects to see an additional 4 gigawatts of residential and commercial projects on top of the U.S. Energy Information Administration projections. Solar is projected to beat out natural gas and wind, which will add 8 gigawatts and 6.8 gigawatts of capacity, respectively. 

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly

For a deeper dive: Quartz, Washington Post, Think Progress, Houston Chronicle

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