While the conclusion was based on many factors, it was mostly determined according to how much sunlight the state receives and how much electricity is currently costing the state’s residents.
Because electricity is more expensive in some states than others, cash-strapped residents are more likely to be interested in alternate energy sources.
Colorado’s number-two slot is a clear indication that the solar initiatives that Governor Bill Ritter has backed in the past year are helping.
The progress comes mostly from the Colorado Industrial Energy Challenge, which has encouraged state companies with high energy bills to turn to solar energy to cut costs.
Individual consumers have also been able to catch a break with state- and utility-sponsored rebates for new solar installations.
Major players in the solar energy game include Denver public schools, Colorado State University at Boulder, and Denver International Airport.
And with 300+ days of sunshine a year, it’s only a short time before these installations will be making a mark on the local energy grid.
Georgia residents, on the other hand, aren’t quite as willing to take advantage of their prime solar-generating conditions. This is in large part due to the state’s already low energy costs—a factor that will undoubtedly slow progress for now.
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