Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York: Residents of these states can expect prime opportunities to go solar in 2011 as these five state’s governors’ have made solar energy production and solar technology development a top priority for the new year and beyond.

Since the inauguration of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in 2007, the state has installed 29.8 megawatts (MW) of solar energy capacity and stands third to only California and New Jersey when it comes to states with the most installed solar capacity. With such an increase in solar during his first term, it would have been easy for Patrick to call it a job well done, satisfied for at least a few years with the state’s progress.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is building the state’s already impressive track record on solar incentives to specifically target the incorporation of solar in big box stores.