Introduction

The race to scale renewable energy development continues to accelerate, with solar energy at the forefront of the transition to a cleaner future. This report is part of a new quarterly series analyzing solar energy siting trends across 12 key U.S. states. Building on our prior research focused on Illinois and New York, this edition broadens the scope to include ten additional states, offering a comprehensive perspective of the challenges and opportunities developers face.

Analyzing data from January through October 2024, this report highlights compounding challenges for solar developers: dwindling land availability, shrinking parcel sizes, and declining feeder capacities. The next edition—set to be published in January—will incorporate new data from November and December, providing up-to-date, actionable insights for developers navigating these obstacles. As part of the Renewable Energy Trends series, this report delivers insights and strategies to help developers adapt, secure optimal sites, and sustain progress in the clean energy transition.

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Methodology

‍This report examines data from January 2024 through October 2024, with projections extending through June 2025, focusing on:

• Number of suitable sites: Defined as parcels with +1 MW of feeder capacity and +15 buildable acres.
• Average site size (acres)
• Available feeder capacity (MWs per site)

States analyzed include Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, offering a comprehensive view of renewable energy site availability across the U.S.

National Averages Reveal Broader Trends

Aggregating data across all states provides insight into nationwide patterns:

• Number of suitable sites: Decreased by 21.9%, from 4,257 in January to 3,327 in October 2024, and is projected to drop to 2,789 by mid-2025.
• Average site size: Decreased 2.0%, from 44.6 acres to 43.7 acres, and is projected to drop to 40.1 acres by mid-2025.
• Average feeder capacity: Decreased 11.4%,  from 4.4 MW to 3.9 MW, and is projected to drop to 3.4 MW by mid-2025.

These nationwide trends set the stage for state-level insights and challenges, emphasizing the urgency of securing suitable sites for solar energy development in a tightening market.

Key Findings Across Twelve States

1. Suitable Sites Are Rapidly Declining¹

Nearly all states are experiencing reductions in the number of suitable sites, reflecting an increasingly competitive environment:

• Colorado: Decreased 6.6%, from 4,290 sites in January to 4,006 by October, and is projected to drop to 3,741 by mid-2025.
• Connecticut: Decreased 30.9%, from 654 sites in January to 452 by October, and is projected to drop to 312 by mid-2025.
• Delaware: Decreased 11.0%, from 2,131 sites in January to 1,896 in October, and is projected to drop to 1,687 by mid-2025.
• Illinois: Decreased sharply by 41.9%, from 13,302 sites in January to 7,735 in October 2024, and is projected to drop to 5,981 by mid-2025.
• Maryland: Decreased 5.4%, from 2,051 sites in January to 1,941 in October, and is projected to drop to 1,747 by mid-2025.
• Massachusetts: Decreased 15.7%, from 719 sites in January to 606 by October, and is projected to drop to 550 by mid-2025.
• Michigan: Slightly decreased 0.5%, from 2,148 sites in January to 2,137 in October, and is projected to drop to 2,126 by mid-2025.
• Minnesota: Slightly decreased 0.4%, from 1,654 sites in January to 1,643 in October, and is projected to drop to 1,475 by mid-2025.
• New York: Decreased 9.6%, from 6,908 sites in January to 6,245 by October, and is projected to drop to 5,372 by mid-2025.
• Oregon: Decreased 31.9%, from 11,452 sites in January to 7,804 in October 2024, and is projected to drop to 5,318 by mid-2025.
• Virginia: Decreased 5.8%, from 3,943 sites in January to 3,716 by October, and is projected to drop to 3,502 by mid-2025.
• Washington: Decreased 4.9%, from 1,832 sites in January to 1,742 in October, and is projected to drop to 1,656 by mid-2025.

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2. Smaller Parcels Are Increasing Project Complexity

In addition to fewer suitable sites, the average acreage of available land is shrinking, making it harder for developers to pursue large-scale projects:

• Colorado: Decreased 6.2%, from 82.3 acres in January to 77.2 acres by October 2024, and is projected to drop to 72 acres by mid-2025.
• Connecticut: Decreased 7.1%, from 26.8 acres in January to 24.9 acres by October, and is projected to drop to 23 acres by mid-2025.
• Delaware: Decreased slightly by 1.7%, from 54.0 acres in January to 53.1 acres by October, and is projected to drop to 43 acres by mid-2025.
• Illinois: Decreased 11.4%, from 51.0 acres in January to 45.2 acres by October 2024, and is projected to drop to 41.2 acres by mid-2025.
• Maryland: Decreased 6.8%, from 35.3 acres in January to 32.9 acres by October, and is projected to drop to 29.6 acres by mid-2025.
• Minnesota: Increased slightly by 0.8%, from 47.8 acres in January to 48.2 acres by October, but is projected to drop to 47 acres by mid-2025.
• New York: Decreased 4.9%, from 41.0 acres in January to 39.0 acres by October, and is projected to drop to 37.6 acres by mid-2025.
• Oregon: Increased 17.1%, from 58.0 acres in January to 67.9 acres in October 2024, but is projected to drop to 57 acres by mid-2025.
• Virginia: Decreased 1.8%, from 43.7 acres in January to 42.9 acres by October, and is projected to drop to 41 acres by mid-2025.
• Washington: Decreased 4.7%, from 44.8 acres in January to 42.7 acres by October, and is projected to drop to 41 acres by mid-2025.

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3. Declining Feeder Capacity Adds Complexity²

 Feeder capacity—a key metric for determining energy output—is also declining, further compounding site selection challenges:

• Colorado: Decreased 21.8%, from 6.50 MW in January to 5.08 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 4.30 MW by mid-2025.
• Connecticut: Decreased 5.1%, from 2.54 MW in January to 2.41 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 2.10 MW by mid-2025.
• Delaware: Decreased 11.9%, from 6.70 MW in January to 5.90 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 4.30 MW by mid-2025.
• Illinois: Decreased 2.0%, from 3.03 MW in January to 2.97 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 2.80 MW by mid-2025.
• Maryland: Decreased 13.3%, from 7.50 MW in January to 6.50 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 5.90 MW by mid-2025.
• Massachusetts: Decreased 7.4%, from 4.30 MW in January to 3.98 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 3.50 MW by mid-2025.
• Michigan: Decreased slightly by 3.7%, from 1.89 MW in January to 1.82 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 1.75 MW by mid-2025.
• Minnesota: Increased 17.1%, from 2.22 MW in January to 2.60 MW by October, but is projected to drop to 2.34 MW by mid-2025.
• New York: Decreased 5.9%, from 3.54 MW in January to 3.33 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 3.20 MW by mid-2025.
• Oregon: Decreased slightly by 5.0%, from 3.98 MW in January to 3.78 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 3.21 MW by mid-2025.
• Virginia: Decreased 14.6%, from 7.90 MW in January to 6.75 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 5.00 MW by mid-2025.
• Washington: Decreased 6.4%, from 2.34 MW in January to 2.19 MW by October, and is projected to drop to 1.90 MW by mid-2025.

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Opportunities in Select Jurisdictions 

Despite the shrinking pool of suitable sites, opportunities still exist within certain Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJ).The following AHJs have 10 or more suitable sites as of October 2024:

• Connecticut: 43 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Colorado: 72 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Delaware: 8 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Illinois: 174 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Maryland: 16 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Massachusetts: 93 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Michigan: 324 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Minnesota: 202 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• New York: 207 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Oregon: 76 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Virginia: 107 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.
• Washington: 56 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites.

On average, states analyzed have 115 AHJs with 10 or more suitable sites, highlighting areas where developers can focus efforts to secure viable parcels.

How Developers Can Adapt

The shrinking availability of renewable energy sites can result in bottlenecks in the permitting process, especially in AHJs with more complex regulations.

This challenge presents an opportunity for developers equipped with the right tools and data. By using platforms like Paces, developers can::

1. Pinpoint Optimal Sites: Paces’ real-time, data-driven insights enable developers to identify high-potential parcels faster, giving them an edge in a competitive market.
2. Early Risk Assessments: Advanced permitting and zoning data can help developers assess risks early, reducing delays and de-risking project timelines.
3. Scalable Landowner Coordination: With tools that streamline outreach and negotiations, developers can efficiently engage with multiple landowners, saving time and resources.

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Conclusion

As renewable energy development faces increasing constraints, developers must act decisively to secure the remaining viable sites. This data is part of our Renewable Energy Trends series, which underscores the importance of adapting quickly with innovative tools and strategies. By addressing these challenges head-on, developers can maintain momentum in the clean energy transition and contribute to a sustainable future.

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1. In states that are not completely covered by utility hosting capacity maps (like Colorado or Maryland, for example), feeder capacity cannot be fully calculated for sites, but instead was conducted for data that was available.
2. Feeder capacity calculation varies by utility.