Research finds that America’s solar industry is exploding

The solar industry has been exploding in the United States over the past few years and with millions of dollars in investment and tons of new jobs being created as a result, that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. In fact, market analysis firm GTM Research has found that last year was actually the biggest year for solar energy in America to date, with a 30% increase in photovoltaic installations compared to 2013.

We’ve noted here before the many ways in which solar power is blowing up in the United States: Adding tons of jobs, driving progressive policies, and attracting millions of dollars in investment from major corporations. It’s not slowing down anytime soon: New data from market analysis firm GTM Research finds that 2014 was solar’s biggest year ever, with 30 percent more photovoltaic installations installed than in 2013. Those numbers are even more impressive when you compare them to other types of energy sources. Even though solar still accounts for a small share of US electricity generation (less than 1 percent), last year it added nearly as many new megawatts to the grid as natural gas, which is quickly catching up on coal as the country’s primary energy source.