While California has led the nation in solar investments, the East Coast is beginning to ramp up its own utility-scale solar farms. According to Clean Technica, the original 13 states are seeing a spike in solar interest, led by New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

The United States saw 3.7 gigawatts of new solar capacity installed in 2014, the best year to date for solar projects. A significant portion of that capacity was developed in California, but much was also installed up and down the Atlantic coast. In fact, North Carolina, with 4 GW of of utility-scale solar projects under development, is gunning to take the solar "crown" from California in the next few years.

"The adoption of solar is spreading quickly nationwide — and nowhere is that more evident than in states like Texas, as well as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia," Ken Johnson, vice president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, recently said, according to Climate Central.

Much of the East Coast's drive to solar is led by renewable energy portfolio standards. For example, North Carolina has legislated that all major utilities in the state have to receive 12.5 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021, with a set amount of that percentage allocated for solar. Solar subsidies and federal tax incentives continue to drive the appeal of solar power generation as well.

Texas is another state driving solar investments, with a significant focus on recently announced projects in the San Antonio area, one of the largest solar projects outside the Southwest.

Of course California is still doing its part to move away from fossil fuels for power. If you're considering contributing to the rise in renewable energy, contact SolarMax Technology Inc., and discuss how you can install solar energy panels on your roof.

To receive a free solar consultation, click HERE.