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The state of solar development in Virginia can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Virginia is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Virginia and how to access them. As of August 2023, Virginia has 66 solar farms already operating with a current capacity of 2,774 MW1 and a current electricity generation of 617,203 MWh. Virginia has a significant amount of operating solar farms compared to the other states in the US, and it has one the largest development of solar farms with 15 solar farms under construction of 186 MW capacity total, 61 planned solar farms with 1,890 MW capacity total, as well as 56 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 4 site control projects. Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Virginia will expand its capacity by 2,075 MW. That’s a 75% growth in capacity for the state! In Virginia, the average solar farm size is 217 acres producing 42.7 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Virginia needs an average of 5 acres per MW of capacity. Want to read more? Get the complete white paper for free:

The state of solar development in Arkansas can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Arkansas is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. Arkansas Solar Development Activity As of August 2023, Arkansas has 17 solar farms already operating with a current capacity of 346 MW1 and a current electricity generation of 7,663 MWh. Arkansas has a significant amount of operating solar farms compared to the other states in the US, and it has one the largest development of solar farms with 2 solar farms under construction of 355 MW capacity total, 13 planned solar farms with 1,058 MW capacity total, as well as 118 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 7 site control projects. Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Arkansas will expand its capacity by 1,413 MW. That’s a 39% growth in capacity for the state! In Arkansas, the average solar farm size is 97 acres producing 20.3 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Arkansas needs an average of 4.8 acres per MW of capacity. Utility Scale Solar Vs Community Solar Utility-scale solar refers to solar farms often created and managed by utilities, independent power producers, or energy firms. These projects aim to produce electricity on a large scale and deliver it directly into the distribution grid. These solar farms generally have more than 10 MW in capacity. Contrarily, community-scale solar refers to smaller-scale solar power facilities, under 10 MW , that are primarily intended to serve local communities or particular user groups. Below is a breakdown of solar farms and their development statuses... Want to read the rest of the analysis? Download the complete white paper for free here.

The state of solar development in Indiana can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Indiana is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Indiana and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. Indiana Solar Energy Activity As of October 2023, Indiana has 85 solar farms already operating with a current capacity of 754 MW1 and a current electricity generation of 69,088 MWh. Indiana has a significant amount of operating solar farms compared to the other states in the US, and it has a massive development of solar farms with 8 solar farms under construction of 225 MW capacity total, 13 planned solar farms with 1,328 MW capacity total, as well as 315 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 19 site control projects. Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Indiana will expand its capacity by 1606.87 MW. That’s a 213% growth  in capacity for the state! In Indiana, the average solar farm size is 42.5 acres, producing 7.2 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Indiana needs an average of 5.9 acres per MW of capacity. Historically, Indiana has been known for their coal production and coal-driven economy. Solar development and the implementation of renewable energy sources only recently picked up pace, as Indiana shifted from 89% to 53% coal usage for its electricity needs over the span of 2009 to 2019. The surge in solar development since 2020 has been greatly influenced by recent federal policies, and Indiana's state-level incentives, which are discussed in more detail below, have also contributed to the increase in queued solar projects. Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

The state of solar development in Michigan can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Michigan is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Michigan and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. Michigan Solar Energy Activity As of October 2023, Michigan has 65 solar farms already operating with a current capacity of 2362 MW1 and a current electricity generation of 39,000 MWh. Michigan has a significant amount of operating solar farms compared to the other states in the US, and it has one the largest development of solar farms with 13 solar farms under construction of 197 MW capacity total, 100 planned solar farms with 912 MW capacity total, as well as 112 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 7 site control projects. Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Michigan will expand its capacity by 1,109 MW. That’s a 47% growth in capacity for the state! In Michigan, the average solar farm size is 60.8 acres producing 8.5 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Michigan needs an average of 7.2 acres per MW of capacity. Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

The state of solar development in Iowa can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Iowa is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Iowa and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. Iowa Solar Energy Activity Iowa has a promising pipeline for future utility-scale solar development with 105 MW capacity for 1 planned project, 2,996 MW capacity for 21 queued projects, and 172 MW capacity for 8 site control projects. Overall, if all planned, queued, and site control farms go into operating status, Iowa will expand its capacity by 3,273 MW. In Iowa, the average solar farm size is 34 acres, producing 4.6 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Iowa needs an average of 7.4 acres per MW of capacity. In recent years, the decreasing costs of solar technology have led to a notable increase in solar initiatives and setups throughout Iowa, and the recent emergence of state and federal policies have played a significant role in promoting solar development since 2019. The aforementioned utility-scale solar projects added to the queue from 2019 onwards is attributable to implementation of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022. The commercial ITC amounts to 30% of the invested basis in eligible property that initiated construction before the end of 2019. The IRA outlined an ITC extension to 30% for solar system installation. The adoption of solar energy is particularly prominent in rural regions like Washington County, where farms and rural businesses have taken the lead, while cities such as Cedar Falls and Ames have successfully implemented community solar projects. Furthermore, solar energy has gained traction on a statewide level, evident in the fact that by the end of 2020, every one of Iowa's 99 counties had solar projects that benefited from the state's initial solar tax credit. The potential for solar energy to assume a more substantial role in Iowa's energy mix has grown significantly in recent years, as indicated by the expanding number of solar projects across the state. By October 2021, Iowa boasted a greater amount of small-scale distributed solar capacity than many neighboring Midwestern and Plains states. As of March 2022, Iowa had approximately 200 MW of installed solar capacity. In the context of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), "net generation" refers to the total electricity produced by an energy source, excluding the power used in the generation process. The EIA gathers and publishes net generation data for various energy sources, such as solar (shown above) providing valuable insights into the U.S. energy production landscape and aiding energy-related decision-making and policy planning. In Iowa specifically, net generation for utility-scale solar projects has dramatically increased as of late, and is projected to continue rising as the aforementioned planned, queued, and site control farms go into operating status. Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

The state of solar development in Missouri can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Missouri is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Missouri and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. Missouri Solar Energy Activity As of August 2023, Missouri has 25 solar farms already operating with a current capacity of 90.9 MW and a current electricity generation of 10,600 MWh. Missouri has a significant amount of operating solar farms compared to the other states in the US, and it has a development of solar farms with 2 solar farms under construction of 8 MW capacity total, 1 planned solar farms with 10 MW1 capacity, as well as 25 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 18 site control projects. Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Missouri will expand its capacity by 18 MW. That’s a 24% growth in capacity for the state. In Missouri, the average solar farm size is 24 acres producing 3.5 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Missouri needs an average of 6.8 acres per MW of capacity. Utility Scale Solar Vs Community Solar Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

The state of solar development in Kentucky can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Kentucky is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Kentucky and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. Kentucky Solar Energy Development Activity As of February 2024, Kentucky has just 7 operational solar farms with a current capacity of 68 MW and a current electricity generation of 11,671 MWh. Kentucky has 2 solar farms under construction with 57 MW capacity total and 5 planned solar farms with 737 MW1 capacity. Kentucky has a significant amount of Utility-Scale queued solar farms compared to the other states in the US, with 144 queued projects and 9 site control projects.  Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Kentucky will expand its capacity by 794 MW. In Kentucky, the average solar farm size is 113 acres producing 9.7 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Kentucky needs an average of 11.6 acres per MW of capacity. Utility Scale Solar Vs Community Solar Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

Solar development in the state of West Virginia can be evaluated by federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. Solar development activity in West Virginia is currently growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in West Virginia and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. West Virginia Solar Energy Development Activity Although West Virginia currently has no operating utility-scale solar farms, the state has one of the largest pipelines for future utility-scale solar development with 70 MW capacity for planned projects, ~6,240 MW capacity for 86 queued projects, and 455 MW capacity for 10 site control projects. Overall, if all planned, queued, and site control farms go into operating status, West Virginia will expand its capacity by 6,765 MW. In West Virginia, the average solar farm size is 245 acres, producing 69.5MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in West Virginia needs an average of 3.5 acres per MW of capacity. Historically, West Virginia has been known for their coal production and coal-driven economy. Solar development and the implementation of renewable energy sources was not prioritized as a result, hence the lack of currently operational utility-scale projects in the state. Solar development in West Virginia was further reduced after 2015 when the state became the first to repeal its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The RPS would’ve enabled a deeper integration of solar and renewable energy sources in West Virginia in a three-tier structure, achieving 10% of renewables from 2015 to 2019, 15% renewables from 2020 to 2024 and 25% renewables from 2025 onwards.  However, the recent emergence of state and federal policies have played a significant role in promoting solar development since 2018. The aforementioned spike of utility-scale solar projects added to the queue from 2018 onwards is attributable to implementation of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022. The commercial ITC amounts to 30% of the invested basis in eligible property that initiated construction before the end of 2019. The IRA outlined an ITC extension to 30% for solar system installation. Additionally, in 2020, West Virginia enacted Senate Bill 583, a notable legislative development that allowed electric companies to produce a portion of their electricity using solar installations. West Virginia’s strong statewide interconnection standards also make the interconnection process less complex and expensive. Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

The state of solar development in Massachusetts can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Massachusetts is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development. We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Massachusetts and how to access them. LandGate provides key data to the top developers and financiers in the country. To learn more about access to this platform, or to talk about how to apply the information below to your business, book time  with a member of our dedicated energy markets team. Massachusetts Solar Energy Development Activity Massachusetts currently has 504  active and operating utility-scale solar farms with a total capacity of 2,048.22 MW   and an average capacity of 4.6 MW. Massachusetts also has an extensive pipeline for future development with 32 planned farms with a total capacity of 125.12 MW and 27 queued projects with a total capacity of 273.97 MW.  Overall, if all under construction, planned, queued, and site control farms go into operating status, Massachusetts will expand its capacity by 454.64 MW . In Massachusetts, the average solar farm size is 48.9 acres, producing 4.6 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. Utility Scale Solar & Commercial Solar Ready to learn more? Access the full white paper here for free.

By August 2023, South Carolina had 108 operational solar farms, boasting a total capacity of 1,503 MW and generating 159,167 MWh of electricity. The state stands out for its substantial number of solar farms in comparison to other U.S. states. Additionally, South Carolina is actively developing its solar energy sector, with 5 solar farms currently under construction with a combined capacity of 10 MW, 25 planned solar farms with a total capacity of 1,638 MW, along with 3 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 2 site control projects. Upon completion of all planned and under-construction farms, South Carolina's capacity is set to increase by 1,648 MW, representing a remarkable 110% growth in capacity for the state. The average size of a solar farm in South Carolina is 116.1 acres, generating 13.9 MW of electricity under optimal conditions. This means that, on average, a solar farm in South Carolina requires 8.3 acres per MW of capacity. Utility Scale Solar Vs Community Solar in South Carolina Utility-scale solar refers to solar farms often created and managed by utilities, independent power producers, or energy firms. These projects aim to produce electricity on a large scale and deliver it directly into the distribution grid. These solar farms generally have more than 10 MW  in capacity. Contrarily, community-scale solar refers to smaller-scale solar power facilities,  under 10 MW , that are primarily intended to serve local communities or particular user groups. Below is a breakdown of the different types of solar farms and their development statuses.    In South Carolina Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, and Santee Cooper are the main utilities. A project in queue means that the project enters the interconnection queue of that region waiting for regulatory approval. During this period, the analysis of possible engineering and land factors is conducted to determine the feasibility of the project to be constructed and connected to the grid. The average amount of time it takes for a farm to go from queue to operational in South Carolina is 23 Months. As per the Santee Cooper Generator Interconnection Queue, South Carolina has seen 76 solar farms added into the queue since 2019, totaling  5.5 GW in capacity. Want to read more? Access the full report below:

California has a well-established pipeline for utility-scale solar development with 7,705 MW capacity for 244 planned projects, 28,493 MW capacity for 119 queued projects, and 4,386 MW capacity for 31 site control projects. Overall, if all planned, queued, and site control farms go into operating status, California will expand its capacity by 40 GW. In California, the average solar farm size is 171 acres, producing 17.8 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in California needs an average of 9.6 acres per 1 MW of capacity. Want to read more? Access the full report below:

As of June 2024, Colorado has 151 operational solar farms with a current capacity of 2,263 MW and a current electricity generation of 309,105 MWh. Colorado has 9 solar farms under construction with 780 MW capacity total and 14 planned solar farms with 901 MW1 capacity. Colorado has 11 solar projects in the site control stage, estimated to add 149,867 MWh of generation. Colorado has a low amount of Utility-Scale queued solar farms compared to the other states in the US, with 1 queued projects. Want to read more? Access the full report below: