The Environment America Research & Policy Centre has released a report that ranks the top 12 solar states in the U.S.

The top states ranked by per capita solar are: Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii New Jersey, New Mexico, California, Delaware, Colorado, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Maryland.

“The sky’s the limit on solar energy,” says Rob Sargent, energy program director with Environment America. “The progress of these states should give us the confidence that we can do much more. Being a leader in pollution-free solar energy means setting big goals and backing them up with good policies.”

Effective public policy (created by state and local governments) for the development of the solar industry is what makes these states solar leaders, rather than the availability of sunlight.

The policy shared by the solar leaders include strong metering standards, renewable energy standards and statewide interconnection policies.