A new study by the Climate Council has praised Dubbo for its dedication to solar energy, but has criticised the rest of NSW.
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'The Australian Renewable Energy Race: Which States are Winning or Losing?' stated 2830 is still the top solar postcode.
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said Dubbo is truly a solar city.
"With 4,024 solar systems installed, Dubbo residents are leading the way in becoming independent from the grid and bringing down electricity bills," Dr Kaye said.
Orana Energy Systems Solahart Central West finance and marketing manager Suellyn Rees said the low levels of rainfall and long days make Dubbo an excellent area for solar energy.
"The central west is the perfect environment for solar and there has been solar here for years so people are educated about it," she said.
Ms Rees said solar energy systems pay for themselves in around four to five years and when people see their savings, word of mouth spreads throughout the city.
However, the Climate Council report and Dr Kaye have painted a different picture of NSW as a whole.
"Unfortunately Dubbo's solar record was a rare achievement in an otherwise scathing report on the state of NSW's clean energy industry," Dr Kaye said.
The Climate Council report states NSW was a leader in solar energy in 2003 when the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme was introduced, but it closed in 2012 and no new carbon pricing initiatives have been proposed.
"Investment in clean energy has grind to a halt in NSW. Despite clear community support, the solar industry is hanging on by a thread," Dr Kaye said.
Ms Rees said more government rebates or incentives would encourage further residents to sign on to solar.
"They're looking at short-term management. Eventually we're going to run out of natural resources, but the sun's never going to run out," she said.
The annual greenhouse gas emissions in NSW are higher than any other state or territory, largely due to mining and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal.
NSW is attributed with 27.4 percent of Australia's national emissions, according to the Department of Environment.
Additionally, the Climate Council report states that despite NSW having 32 per cent of the population, it only holds 21 per cent of the renewable energy jobs.
