Las Vegas places among top 10 cities for solar energy

Media Contacts
Levi Kamolnick

Report surveyed municipally owned utilities for installed solar capacity

Environment Nevada Research & Policy Center

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas came in 7th for solar energy capacity according to a new report that ranked the top solar cities throughout the country. Shining Cities 2020: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy found that Las Vegas was supplying more than 164 watts per person of solar energy to residents, edging out a host of larger cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Houston by the same metric. 

“This is one more accomplishment Las Vegas can add to its big and bright reputation,” said Levi Kamolnick, State Director of Environment Nevada Research and Policy Center. “While this city has been a national clean energy leader, there’s still more we can do to build on this progress..”  

Beyond the findings in Las Vegas, the report examined national solar power in major cities over the past seven years. The analysis found that of the 57 cities surveyed in all seven editions of this report, almost 90 percent more than doubled their total installed solar PV capacity between 2013 and 2019.

Overall, 2020’s Shining Cities survey ranked 70 of America’s major cities by solar energy capacity. Honolulu placed first overall for solar energy capacity per capita, while Los Angeles finished No. 1  in total solar energy capacity installed.  

These numbers show tremendous progress, largely thanks to a concerted push by lawmakers to capitalize on our state’s most abundant natural resource. It’s now been 3.5 years since city officials announced municipal buildings were 100% renewable, and rooftop solar in Nevada has seen a strong resurgence since stumbles not far in the rearview mirror. Still, room for growth remains in some areas such as efficiency, storage, and wind energy, as discussed in Environment Nevada Research & Policy Center’s Renewables on the Rise report. Investments in these areas will be critical in the continued growth of clean energy.  

“As we look to protect our health and get our economy running in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to make smart policy decisions,” said Kamolnick. “That means investing in infrastructure designed around a future powered completely by renewable energy.”

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