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Xist · 09-23-2018, 10:05 PM

There is a campaign claiming that Arizona is so sunny we should produce more solar power than any other state. I think AZ is ranked third nationwide. I spent hours and hours researching this law they are trying to pass and finally decided to fulfill some of my adult responsibilities, although I probably watched cat videos instead.

Arizona may have more sun than any other state, I tried to find out for sure, but it does not seem that anyone has tried to compare entire states.

In alphabetic order (hopefully):

Please note that the colors used for each state do not correlate with other states. Sunny states and dim states use the same colors, so you need to look closer.

Arizona ranges from 6.3 – 8.3 kWh/m²/Day and honestly every range seems approximately evenly distributed. Call it 7.3?

California goes from 4 – 8.5 and Imperial Valley is sunnier than anywhere else in the United States. It looks like the vast majority of California ranges from 5.8 – 8.5. Ignore Eureka and say the state averages 7.15? The state is far larger than Arizona with far too many people. I do not see any reason for California to not try to meet their power needs with solar and they have four or five times as many people as Arizona.
I argue that California should produce the most solar energy.
It does.

Florida varies from 4.7 – 6.0, but mostly looks 4.7 – 5.5. 5.1?
Nevada: 5.0 – 8.5. Maybe 6.8?
New England: 3.3 – 4.5. 3.9?
New Jersey: 4.0 – 4.5. 4.3?
North Carolina surprisingly produces more solar energy than Arizona: 4.2 – 4.9. 4.6?
Texas: 4.5 – 8.0: 6.3?
Utah: 3.0 – 7.5: 6.15?

Yes, the Southwest has abundant sunlight, but do you know what else we have in plentiful supply?

Dust and heat.

Neither of those are good for solar power.

“Photovoltaic modules are tested at a temperature of 25 degrees C (STC) – about 77 degrees F., and depending on their installed location, heat can reduce output efficiency by 10-25%.” https://www.civicsolar.com/support/i...l-efficiencies

Mark Rober asked some kids and they installed sprinklers on their solar cells in California, which he put on a timer, and runs once a week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=a1D-fZP8qJk

Then there is this:

09-23-2018, 10:05 PM	#2981 (permalink)
Xist Not Doug Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Show Low, AZ Posts: 12,186 Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D 90 day: 35.35 mpg (US) Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX 90 day: 34.2 mpg (US) Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE 90 day: 35.39 mpg (US) Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE 90 day: 29.44 mpg (US) Thanks: 7,225 Thanked 2,217 Times in 1,708 Posts	There is a campaign claiming that Arizona is so sunny we should produce more solar power than any other state. I think AZ is ranked third nationwide. I spent hours and hours researching this law they are trying to pass and finally decided to fulfill some of my adult responsibilities, although I probably watched cat videos instead. Arizona may have more sun than any other state, I tried to find out for sure, but it does not seem that anyone has tried to compare entire states. In alphabetic order (hopefully): Please note that the colors used for each state do not correlate with other states. Sunny states and dim states use the same colors, so you need to look closer. Arizona ranges from 6.3 – 8.3 kWh/m²/Day and honestly every range seems approximately evenly distributed. Call it 7.3? California goes from 4 – 8.5 and Imperial Valley is sunnier than anywhere else in the United States. It looks like the vast majority of California ranges from 5.8 – 8.5. Ignore Eureka and say the state averages 7.15? The state is far larger than Arizona with far too many people. I do not see any reason for California to not try to meet their power needs with solar and they have four or five times as many people as Arizona. I argue that California should produce the most solar energy. It does. Florida varies from 4.7 – 6.0, but mostly looks 4.7 – 5.5. 5.1? Nevada: 5.0 – 8.5. Maybe 6.8? New England: 3.3 – 4.5. 3.9? New Jersey: 4.0 – 4.5. 4.3? North Carolina surprisingly produces more solar energy than Arizona: 4.2 – 4.9. 4.6? Texas: 4.5 – 8.0: 6.3? Utah: 3.0 – 7.5: 6.15? Yes, the Southwest has abundant sunlight, but do you know what else we have in plentiful supply? Dust and heat. Neither of those are good for solar power. “Photovoltaic modules are tested at a temperature of 25 degrees C (STC) – about 77 degrees F., and depending on their installed location, heat can reduce output efficiency by 10-25%.” https://www.civicsolar.com/support/i...l-efficiencies Mark Rober asked some kids and they installed sprinklers on their solar cells in California, which he put on a timer, and runs once a week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=a1D-fZP8qJk Then there is this: Attached Thumbnails