Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Louisiana
Solar panels on a house in Terrytown, Louisiana
Solar power in Louisiana is ranked 34th for installed solar PV capacity as of 2017 by the Solar Energy Industry Association.[1] The state's "solar friendliness" according to Solar Power Rocks has fallen to 50th place for 2018 as the state credit program ends[2] and full 1:1 retailnet metering is being phased out.[3] Taxpayers still benefit from federal incentive programs such as the 30 percenttax credit, which applies to business and residential solar photovoltaic and thermal energy systems of any size.
From January 1, 2008 to June 19, 2015, Louisiana offered a 50 percent tax credit up to $12,500 for the installation of solar system for purchased systems. On a combined basis with federal tax credits, and depending on a homeowner's tax situation, this amounted to an 80 percent tax credit for solar installations less than $25,000 in value,[4][5][6] as well as a smaller credit for leased solar systems, which increased the affordability of solarPV andwater heating.[7]
Google's Project Sunroof estimates Louisiana to have over 20GW of rooftop solar potential;[8] New Orleans is estimated to have over 90% of its roofs capable of solar energy production.[9]
Solar Panels on Mall of Louisiana
New Orleans' largest solar array is the 1MW array installed by Blattner Energy at theEntergy Patterson facility in New Orleans East.[10] The largest solar project in the state of Louisiana as of 2018 was the 1.2MW rooftop solar system at theMall of Louisiana, completed in 2017 by Solar Alternatives and Strata Solar.[11][12]
A planned 345 MW project inPointe Coupée Parish will more than double the solar power capacity in the state.[13]
^Sherwood, Larry (August 2012)."U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011"(PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved2012-08-16.
^Sherwood, Larry (June 2011)."U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010"(PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 20. Retrieved2011-06-29.
^Sherwood, Larry (July 2009)."U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008"(PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved2010-07-24.
^Sherwood, Larry (July 2012)."U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012"(PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved2013-10-11.
^Sherwood, Larry (July 2014)."U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013"(PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved2014-09-26.
