Two neighboring Southeast U.S. states hold places on a new study's top-ten states that would most strongly benefit from deployment of solar power devices, according to published reports.

Though they're considered lagging in the solar power realm, Georgia and Alabama hold significant potential, according to the first of its kind study compiled by Arizona State University's business school. The study was published in The Electricity Journal.

"We see a growing trend by states to increase the importance of renewable electricity generation," according to report author and assistant research professor Matthew Croucher.

Georgia ranks third, behind Colorado and Arizona, for states that would benefit from solar power by providing the renewable energy to other states while Alabama shares eighth place with Missouri. For self sufficiency purposes, Georgia ranks fifth while Alabama is tied for eighth with Mississippi.

"The biggest take-away from this study is that if the U.S. is serious about maximizing the societal benefits of solar generation, then we need to look at the national level at how different states can serve not only their own needs, but also those of other states with less ability to create electricity using solar technologies," he said.