Solar Power on the Rise

The report details the expansion of solar energy in the U.S., focusing on rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, large-scale PV, and concentrating solar power (CSP). It highlights significant cost reductions, the role of state and federal incentives, and the environmental benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels to solar, while addressing grid integration challenges and land-use impacts.

• Solar power experienced rapid growth in the U.S. between 2010 and 2013, with solar PV installations increasing by 485 percent. By early 2014, the U.S. had over 480,000 installed solar systems totaling 13,400 megawatts, which is sufficient to power approximately 2.4 million typical households.
• The cost of residential solar PV systems in the U.S. fell by 29 percent from 2010 to 2013, with average prices for a five-kilowatt system dropping from $32,000 to under $23,000 before incentives. Federal tax credits return 30 percent of the purchase price, and additional state and local support can further reduce total costs to under $10,000 in leading states.
• Rooftop solar provides grid benefits by producing electricity during peak afternoon demand on hot days, which helps utilities avoid using expensive and polluting oil or natural gas plants. However, high adoption rates in areas like Atlantic City, San Diego, and Oahu can cause 'feeder' lines to struggle with reverse electricity flows.
• Large-scale PV projects are significantly cheaper per watt than residential systems, with 2013 costs being half of what they were in 2010. While they offer carbon-free power and minimal water use, they require substantial land—such as the 1,160 acres used by the Arlington Valley project in Arizona—and can impact wildlife habitats and cultural sites.
• Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) differs from PV by using heat to generate electricity and offers the unique advantage of storing energy as heat in molten salts to provide power after sunset. However, CSP has seen slower growth than PV due to less favorable economics and specific environmental risks, such as the potential for solar flux to kill birds and bats at power tower facilities like Ivanpah.
• The U.S. solar industry is a significant economic driver, employing over 140,000 people in 2013 (a 53 percent increase over 2010) and investing nearly $15 billion annually into the economy.

APA

Rogers, J., & Wisland, L. (2014). Solar Power on the Rise. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2014/08/Solar-Power-on-the-Rise.pdf

Chicago

Rogers, John, and Laura Wisland. Solar Power on the Rise. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2014/08/Solar-Power-on-the-Rise.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rogers |first1=John |last2=Wisland |first2=Laura |title=Solar Power on the Rise |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=August 2014 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2014/08/Solar-Power-on-the-Rise.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rogers2014solar, author = {Rogers, John and Wisland, Laura}, title = {{Solar Power on the Rise}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2014}, month = aug, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2014/08/Solar-Power-on-the-Rise.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }