California's Firebaugh-Las Deltas United School District used solar panels to balance out budget cuts and save their music program.

(Firebaugh-Las Deltas USD)

It's difficult to think of in anything other than grim terms, but there is one bright side to the state's dilemma.

With less rain and therefore less clouds, California is poised to use its well-established solar power infrastructure to capture an increasing bounty of sunlight.

As a result of the drought, hydropower has taken a massive hit in California; the in a two year period starting in 2012 cost consumers $1.4 billion and increased carbon emissions by 8 percent.

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Luckily, to help fill that gap, California's solar power industry has blossomed. According to the Solar Energry Industries Association, . Over 50,000 people work at the thousands of solar companies that pepper the state, and the 10,000 megawatts of power generated by these companies has the capacity to power nearly 2.5 million homes.

Grist reports that Pacific Gas and Electric every month, bringing a new solar customer to its grid every 11 minutes.

Napa-based company Clean Power Research looked at satellite data for Grist and found that the drought, in its four years, has .

Ironically, droughts can also coat solar panels in a layer of dust and reduce their output, but this can be remedied by the owner.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Drought Photos

Aerial view overlooking landscaping on April 4, 2015, in Ramona, Calif. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)