Solar beginning to power growth in South Carolina

South Carolina ranked ninth among states in terms of solar photovoltaic installations in the second quarter of 2016. It’s a huge jump from its 36th position in 2015.

The ranking comes from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s quarterly U.S. Solar Market Insight. California was far and away the top state for installations. North Carolina ranked second and Georgia was 11th.

In the first half of 2016, solar accounted for 26 percent of all new electric generating capacity brought on-line in the U.S., according to the report.

Several solar-related economic development announcements have been made by the S.C. Department of Commerce in the past year. They include:

• A $200 million announced investment by Adger Solar in two solar farm projects in Clarendon County
• An $85 million announced investment by National Renewable Energy Corp. in Allendale County
• A $30 million announced investment by Cypress Creek Renewables in Lexington County
• A $12 million announced investment by Cypress Creek Renewables in Saluda County

In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has lauded the ReGenesis Project in Spartanburg, where the cleanup of Superfund sites has led to community revitalization projects. There, a former landfill is being converted into a 12,000-panel solar farm.

The solar farm “will bring jobs and a source of clean energy that will power almost 500 homes in the surrounding neighborhood,” according to an EPA news release.