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FLORIDA - Florida is poised to become the top-ranked residential solar state by 2028, driven by clean energy tax incentives and increasing public adoption.
Florida continues to emerge as a leader in solar energy, with significant growth in installations in 2024.
The state installed 3.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in the first three quarters of 2024, making it the second-largest state for solar installations in the country.
With more than 253,000 solar installations statewide, including nearly 30,000 new systems this year, the Sunshine State is rapidly expanding its renewable energy footprint.
Sean Gallagher, senior vice president at the Solar Energy Industries Association, spoke with WFSU.org where he attributed this growth to clean energy tax incentives passed by Congress in recent years.
These incentives have bolstered the solar industry despite opposition from electric utilities.
Public acceptance of solar panels has grown, especially after recent hurricanes left many Floridians without power.
Gallagher noted that these outages have driven more homeowners to consider solar as a reliable and sustainable energy option.
He also predicted that Florida could become the top-ranked residential solar state by 2028, surpassing other leading states in solar adoption.
Florida’s solar growth reflects a broader shift toward renewable energy, driven by both economic incentives and increasing consumer interest in sustainable power solutions.
However, policy changes at the local level could hinder this momentum.