Examining the Key Drivers of Residential Solar Adoption in Upstate New York

Chelsea Schelly and James C. Letzelter
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Chelsea Schelly: Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49930, USA
James C. Letzelter: GenMetrix LLC, 260 1st Ave S, Suite 200 Box 142, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: This research examines the decision factors influencing adoption of residential solar electric power systems in upstate New York. New York has a goal to provide 100% of electric energy in the State through renewable resources, which includes solar electricity, by 2030. Thus, identifying the most important decision factors may be useful in understanding potential means of promoting solar technology adoption. Through an online survey of homeowners in upstate New York who have installed residential solar systems, the research examined the importance of decision factors influencing the decision to adopt and how factors have changed over time. The research finds that environmental motivations are slightly more important than economics and that perception of solar installers is also important to adopters. This work contributes new insights to the field of research examining solar and renewable energy technology adoption at the residential scale, addresses the role of policy in promoting solar adoption, and provides insights for developers and others looking to enhance the rates of solar technology adoption at the residential scale.

Keywords: solar technology adoption; residential PV adoption; renewable energy adoption; renewable portfolio standard (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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