Advertisement

Fast-Growing U.S. Solar Industry Now Employs Over 119,000 Led By California, Arizona And New Jersey

At a national level, the solar industry data added nearly 14,000 new jobs in 2012, a 13% growth rate over 2011–5 times the job growth rate of the overall economy.

1 in 230 jobs created nationally over the last year were created in the solar industry

The Solar Foundation, an independent nonprofit solar research and education group, has put out its State Solar Jobs Map (www.solarstates.org).

Last year, “the top ten states for solar jobs were: California, Arizona, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York, Texas, Michigan, and Ohio.” It is no coincidence that “the top three states for jobs are also the leaders in 2012 installed capacity.”

Advertisement

Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association explains:

Today, solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, providing good-paying jobs for more than 119,000 American workers. Over the past five years, the U.S. solar energy industry has experienced sustained growth thanks to rising demand, falling costs and new financing options. Since 2008, the amount of solar powering our homes, businesses and military bases has increased six-fold–from 1,100 megawatts to more than 7,700 megawatts today, which is enough to power more than 1.2 million American homes.Some of this growth is attributed to the fact that the cost of a solar system has dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past two years, making solar more affordable than ever for consumers. If we want to want to create new jobs, foster innovation and ensure prosperity for future generations of Americans, we must expand our commitment to using clean, renewable energy sources in the U.S. and around the world.

Hear! Hear!