Amounting

The U.S. solar industry recorded year/year growth in 2010 amounting to a 67% increase in the industry’s market value compared to 2009, hitting $6 billion last year, compared to $3.6 billion the previous year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research. SEIA called solar a “bright spot on the U.S. economy” last year as the nation’s fastest growing energy sector. There were 878 MW of photovoltaic (PV) installations and 78 MW of concentrating solar power installed last year. The PV market made the most significant strides, more than doubling installation totals from 2009, according to the report, “U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2010.” Nationally, 16 states each installed more than 10 MW of PV last year, increasing from only four states in 2007. The top 10 states in order were California, New Jersey, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina and Texas. The study indicated that price declines were an “important factor” in the solar expansion last year.