2015
STATE SOLAR
JOBS CENSUS
COMPENDIUM
ABOUT THE SOLAR FOUNDATION®
Considered the premier research organization on the
solar workforce, employer trends, and the economic
impacts of solar, TSF has provided expert advice to leading
organizations such as the National Academies, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the U.S. Department of Energy,
and others during a time of dynamic industry growth and
policy and economic uncertainty.
While TSF recognizes that solar energy is a key part of our
energy future, it is committed to excellence in its aim to help
people fairly and objectively gauge the value and importance
of these technologies.
ABOUT BW RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
BW Research is widely regarded as the national leader in
labor market research for emerging industries and clean
energy technologies. In addition to the Census series, BW
Research has conducted rigorous solar installation and
wind industry labor market analysis for the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, wind energy and energy
retrofit studies for the Natural Resources Defense Council,
a series of comprehensive clean energy workforce studies
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Illinois, Vermont,
Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and California, as well as
numerous skills and gap analyses for community colleges,
workforce investment boards, state agencies, and nonprofit
organizations.
COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF DIRECT ENERGY SOLAR, CT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Solar Foundation® (TSF) is a national 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to
increase understanding of solar energy through
strategic research and education that transforms
markets. In 2010, TSF conducted its first
National Solar Jobs Census report, establishing
the first comprehensive solar jobs baseline
and verifying that the solar industry is having a
positive impact on the U.S. economy. Using the
same rigorous, peer-reviewed methodology,
TSF has conducted an annual Census in each of
the last six years to track changes and analyze
trends.
This Census Compendium is an offshoot from
TSF’s National Solar Jobs Census 2015 effort.
TSF would like to acknowledge and thank its
research partners. Without their foresight and
leadership, this report would not have been
possible. Research partners include: the George
Washington University Solar Institute for
providing assistance and support in reviewing
and validating report results and analysis; the
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) for
use of its National Solar Database and peer
review; GTM Research/SEIA for providing
survey respondents with the U.S. Solar Market
Insight: 2014 YIR report, and; the following
universities for their contributions to the their
state Census reports: Florida Solar Energy
Center at the University of Central Florida,
North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
at North Carolina State University, Energy Policy
Innovation Council at Arizona State University,
and Michigan State University.
Sponsors of this year’s Census effort include:
Energy Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation, Tilia Fund, George Washington
University Solar Institute, State of Minnesota
Department of Commerce, State of New
Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources
Department, Utah Governor’s Office of Energy
Development, SEIA, Recurrent, SolarCity,
First Solar, Sol Systems, E.ON, Trina, sPower,
Standard Solar, CALSEIA, All Earth Renewables,
and groSolar.
We also want to thank all the solar employers
that participated in the survey. Your responses
were critical in providing us with accurate and
timely data.
For questions or comments about this report, please contact either:
Andrea Luecke
President and Executive Director
The Solar Foundation®
202-469-3750; info@solarfound.org
www.TheSolarFoundation.org
Philip Jordan
Principal and Vice President
BW Research Partnership
508-384-2471; pjordan@bwresearch.com
www.bwresearch.com
Please cite this publication when referencing this material as State Solar Jobs Census Compendium
2015, The Solar Foundation, available at: www.tsfcensus.org
Photo courtesy of Borrego Solar
INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW
The Solar Foundation’s State Solar Jobs Census
2015 provides current employment, trends,
and projected growth in the solar industry. This
year’s State Census is comprised of individual
reports for 14 states, an interactive district-level
map at SolarStates.org, and this Compendium,
which includes summaries of all states and
regions based on the nine U.S. Census Divisions.
This work follows the January 2016 release of
the National Solar Jobs Census 2015. The National
Census found that as of November 2015, the U.S.
solar industry employs nearly 209,000 solar
workers, representing a growth rate of 20.2%
since November 2014, and 123% since The Solar
Foundation first started tracking solar workers
in 2010. In 2015, the solar industry added
workers1 at a rate nearly 12 times faster than
the overall economy, accounting for 1.2% of all
jobs created in the U.S. Over the next 12 months,
employers expect to see total employment in
the solar industry increase by 14.7% – which
is 13 times faster than the U.S. workforce as a
whole is expected to grow2 – to approximately
240,000 solar workers.3 Nationally, solar power
currently produces approximately 1% of U.S.
electricity generation, but that too is expected
to increase in coming years.4
Factors that Differentiate Solar Power Among States
This section addresses key factors that help to differentiate solar power employment and development among the states. Such factors include:
• Customer demand
• Solar radiation/resource
• Grid access
• Installation costs
• Energy prices
• Local and state policies
More populated states generate greater residential, commercial, and industrial demand for
electricity, including solar power. While California, the nation’s most populated state, leads
the country in solar power, the next four most
populated states – Texas, Florida, New York, and
Illinois – do not rank in the top five for installed
solar capacity, and only New York joins California as a top five state for total solar jobs.
Some states receive far greater solar radiation in
a given year than others, as seen in the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory map below. The
sunny, dry Southwest has the greatest natuState Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
ral solar resource, generating on average more
electricity from photovoltaic cells per square
meter than in other part of the country. Not surprisingly, the four states with the best solar resource – Arizona, California, Nevada, and New
Mexico – rank in the top ten for solar jobs per
capita. Nonetheless, regions that receive less
solar radiation can also generate ample power.
Germany’s solar resource is less than that of any
U.S. state except Alaska, yet Germany boasts 40
GW of installed solar capacity, more than all U.S.
states combined.5 Closer to home, even a system
in Portland, Maine can produce over 90% of the
1
solar electricity, on an annual basis, as a comparable system operating in Miami, Florida.6
Solar power systems typically require access to
the grid. Large, utility-scale solar generation, for
example, must have access to the electric grid to
sell bulk power to consumers. While it may be
preferable to locate utility-scale solar projects
in remote areas, such areas often lack transmission lines that allow access to the grid. This
disconnect can limit the potential for high radiation regions with ample open space to support
more populated regions. However, the growth
of distributed solar power could decrease the
need for additional bulk power generation and
related transmission lines.7
The general decline in installation costs has
been essential to solar market growth. Since
2010, U.S. average installed costs have declined
35% for residential, 58% for nonresidential,
and 67% for utility-scale installations.8 However, among the states, there is a considerable
amount of variability in these costs. A 15-state
study of smaller (<15 kW) PV systems found that
installation costs ranged considerably among
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
states.9 Factors that influenced installation costs
include (1) potential electric bill savings, (2)
government incentives, (3) number of installers in the local market, (4) installer experience,
(5) installation size, (6) installation ownership
(customer of third party), (7) construction type
(new construction or retrofits), (8) PV materials
(thin film or crystalline silicon), and (9) source
of materials.
Installation costs typically range from $2.00 to
$4.00 per watt, with residential systems costing more, and varying more, on average than
non-residential and utility-scale systems.10
The economic benefit of solar power tends to be
greater in states with higher average electricity prices. Mainland U.S. electricity prices range
from a high of 16.73 cents per kWh in New
England, to a low of 8.48 cents per kWh in the
West South Central Division of the U.S. Some of
the highest prices for electricity can be found in
populous states such as California, New York,
and New Jersey, while prices are highest in Hawaii, at 26.81 cents per kWh. As of September,
average electricity prices for 2015 were 10.51
2
Average Price of Electricity to Customers by State, Year-to-Date, Through Sept. 2015‡
Division & States
Price
(cents
per kWh)
Division 1
16.73
State Rank:
Highest
to Lowest
Price
Price
(cents
per kWh)
State Rank:
Highest
to Lowest
Price
North Carolina
9.41
31
Division & States
Connecticut
17.99
2
South Carolina
9.58
28
Maine
13.08
11
Virginia
9.39
32
Massachusetts
17.11
5
West Virginia
8.06
46
New Hampshire
16.17
6
Rhode Island
17.20
4
Alabama
9.52
29
Vermont
14.33
9
Kentucky
8.02
47
Mississippi
9.65
27
Tennessee
9.36
33
Division 2
13.22
New Jersey
14.14
10
New York
15.54
8
Pennsylvania
10.42
19
Division 3
9.87
Division 6
Division 7
9.13
8.48
Arkansas
8.22
44
Louisiana
7.71
50
Illinois
9.30
35
Oklahoma
7.94
49
Indiana
8.82
39
Texas
8.77
41
Michigan
10.89
16
Ohio
9.91
21
Arizona
10.64
18
Wisconsin
11.01
15
Colorado
9.86
23
Idaho
8.18
45
Division 4
9.43
Division 8
9.65
Iowa
8.72
43
Montana
8.99
37
Kansas
10.11
20
Nevada
9.74
26
Minnesota
9.75
24
New Mexico
9.89
22
Missouri
9.44
30
Utah
8.74
42
Nebraska
9.20
36
Wyoming
7.97
48
North Dakota
8.94
38
South Dakota
9.35
34
Division 5
10.06
Division 9 (cont.)
12.95
California
15.63
7
Oregon
8.80
40
7.32
51
Delaware
11.21
14
Washington
District of Columbia
12.01
13
Division 9 (non-cont.)
23.34
Florida
10.71
17
Alaska
17.96
3
Georgia
9.75
24
Hawaii
26.81
1
Maryland
12.11
12
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
US AVERAGE
10.51
3
cents per kWh nationwide. Due to the increased
economic benefits of solar in states with traditionally expensive electricity, nearly all of the
high-rate states have seen significant solar development in recent years.
State and local policies and incentives can differentiate solar development among states. Chief
among these are net metering and interconnection. A majority of states offer net metering,
which allows owners of residential and commercial solar energy systems to sell excess power back to the utility. For most states, customers
can sell the excess power back to the utility at
the retail electricity rate. For other states, such
as Hawaii and Nevada, excess power is credited at a lower wholesale rate, decreasing investment return on solar installations in those areas. States may also have aggregate system caps,
meaning that utilities will only purchase a fixed
amount of distributed power in a given year. Finally, there may be interconnection charges or
fees for hooking distributed power up to the
grid. Almost half (22) of all states received an
“A” or “B” grade for net metering and interconnection as shown in the table on the next page.
power among states. Demand response tools,
such as “automated load control, smart grid and
smart metering, real-time pricing, and time-ofuse tariffs,” can provide flexibility for intermittent power sources, such as solar, to more efficiently meet demand.11 Efficient battery storage
could further leverage these demand response
tools. Additionally, the growing use of electric
vehicles will increase demand for electricity.
States that are quick to accommodate electric
vehicles will experience a correlated growth in
electricity demand, which may serve as an additional driver for increased solar development.
There are numerous state incentives, such as
rebates and tax credits, that encourage solar development. Such incentives are often influenced
by broader goals for renewable portfolio standards (RPS) – in which case states commit to derive a specific percent of their power generation
from renewable energy sources by a specified
year. RPS designated renewable energy sources
typically include hydro-electric, wind, solar (PV
& thermal), biomass, and geothermal. States
typically designate 15% to 30% of their electricity generation from renewable sources by a year
in the relatively near future. Some states such
as California, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire have set aggressive RPS goals that will
help to drive solar development in those states
for years to come.
There are policy developments related to technological changes that can differentiate solar
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
4
Top Scoring States
(A & B grades)
Policy Grades12
Renewable Portfolio
Standards (RPS)13
State
Net Metering
Interconnection
RPS Target
RPS Target Deadline
CA
A
A
50%
2030
CO
A
B
30%
2020
CT
A
B
23%
2020
DC
A
B
20%
2020
DE
A
B
25%
2026
IA
B
B
105 MW
N/A
IL
B
A
25%
2023
IN
B
B
10%
2025
MA
A
A
15%
2020
MD
A
B
20%
2022
ME
B
B
40%
2017
NH
A
B
24.8%
2025
NJ
A
B
20.38%
2021
NM
B
A
20%
2020
NY
A
B
50%
2030
OH
A
A
12.5%
2026
OR
A
A
25%
2025
PA
A
B
18%
2021
RI
B
B
14.5%
2019
UT
A
A
20%
2025
VT
A
B
75%
2032
WA
B
B
15%
2020
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
5
State Solar Employment
California leads the nation with over 75,000
solar jobs. It has five times the number of solar
jobs as the second highest state of Massachusetts (15,095). California is expected to continue to lead the nation in solar jobs with a forecasted 19% growth in 2016. The third largest
state by solar jobs, Nevada, has the most jobs
per capita, followed by Massachusetts. However, given recent policy changes in Nevada, the
state's solar workforce is no longer expected to
grow in 2016 at the 18% rate projected. Nationally, solar jobs are expected to grow 14.7% in
2016.
California leads the nation in installation jobs,
followed by Massachusetts and Nevada (though,
as noted, this may no longer be true). The proportion of Nevada, New York, Tennessee, and
Maryland’s installation jobs is well above the
national average of 57.4%. Of the top ten states
for total installation jobs, Nevada has by far the
greatest proportion of such positions, with installation firms employing nearly 95% of its
solar workers. Thus, Nevada’s solar economy
is highly dependent on the residential rooftop
solar business, where most installation jobs are
typically found.
California leads the nation in solar manufacturing jobs, followed by Arizona and Massachusetts. Arizona and Oregon manufacturing firms
employ over a third of their states' solar workers, which is well in excess of the national average of 14.5%.
California leads the nation in project development jobs, followed by Massachusetts and
Florida. Massachusetts, Florida, and Louisiana
employ a significantly greater proportion of
project development workers than the national
average of 10.8%. Notably, Nebraska project development firms employ an impressive 61.4%
of the state's solar workers. While a high proportion of project development jobs may imply
that utilities and large firms are actively pursuing solar power, it could also indicate a missed
opportunity to develop more residential and
small commercial rooftop solar.
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
Top 10 States in Installation Jobs
State
Installation
% of Solar Jobs
CA
MA
NV
NY
TX
NJ
FL
TN
MD
CO
40,597
8,741
8,285
5,829
4,547
4,303
3,217
3,047
3,025
2,958
53.7%
57.9%
94.5%
70.7%
64.7%
60.9%
49.0%
80.2%
70.9%
59.2%
National Average
57.4%
Top 10 States in Manufacturing Jobs
State
Manufacturing
% of Solar Jobs
CA
11,183
14.8%
AZ
2,400
34.7%
MA
2,098
13.9%
TX
1,424
20.3%
OR
1,149
38.3%
NC
1,144
19.2%
OH
834
17.3%
IL
822
23.6%
NY
800
9.7%
GA
751
23.6%
National Average
14.5%
6
Top 10 States in Solar Jobs
State
California
Massachusetts
Nevada
New York
New Jersey
Texas
Arizona
Florida
North Carolina
Colorado
2015
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016 Projected
Growth
Cumulative Q3
2015 Installed
Capacity Rank
75,598
1
5
18.9%
1
8,250
4
21
11.6%
7
7
7
15,095
8,764
7,071
7,030
6,922
6,560
5,950
4,998
2
3
5
6
8
9
10
Methodology
The State Solar Jobs Census 2015 demonstrates
that the U.S. solar industry is having a positive
and growing impact on the national economy,
supporting jobs across every state in the nation.
As with the previous Census studies, this report
series includes information about all types of
companies engaged in the analysis, research
and development, production, sales, installation, and use of all solar technologies – ranging
from solar photovoltaics (PV), to concentrating
solar power (CSP), to solar water heating systems for the residential, commercial, industrial,
and utility market segments.
The findings presented herein are based on rigorous survey efforts that include nearly 288,000
telephone calls and over 44,000 emails to known
and potential solar establishments across the
United States, resulting in a maximum margin
of error for state employment of ±5% at a 95%
confidence interval. Unlike economic impact
models that generate employment estimates
based on economic data or jobs-per megawatt
(or jobs-per-dollar) assumptions, the Solar Jobs
Census series provides statistically valid and
current data, gathered from actual employers.
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
2
1
12
34
28
15
8
8.6%
18.5%
10.3%
12.7%
8.4%
7.8%
10.2%
10.3%
6
5
3
10
2
13
4
9
In contrast, The Solar Foundation’s 2014 state
estimates of solar employment (for all states except CA, AZ, NY, TX, MD, and GA) were produced
using a carefully developed dual methodology – one for installation and construction jobs
and another for non-installation jobs (covering
industry sectors such as manufacturing, sales &
distribution, project development, and “other”
occupations that support the solar industry).
Method one used labor intensity multipliers
developed internally and cross-checked with
leading studies on the subject, while method
two was based not only on a direct count of solar workers, but also the average number of jobs
per solar establishment and total number of establishments in the state.
This year's full methodology can be found in the
Appendix of the National Solar Jobs Census 2015
report: www.TSFcensus.org.
State-specific Census reports were completed
for 14 states including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Vermont. These reports can be found at www.TSFcensus.org or on
The Solar Foundation’s new interactive
SolarStates.org microsite.
7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Division 1: Pg. 9-25
• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
Division 2: Pg. 26-35
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
Division 3: Pg. 36-49
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Wisconsin
Division 4: Pg. 50-67
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
Division 5: Pg. 68-89
• Delaware
• Distict of Columbia
• Florida
• Goergia
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• South Carolina
Division 6: Pg. 90-101
• Alabama
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Tennessee
Division 7: 102-113
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Oklahoma
• Texas
Division 8: Pg. 114-133
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Idaho
• New Mexico
• Montana
• Utah
• Nevada
• Wyoming
Division 9: Pg. 134-147
• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Oregon
• Washington
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
8
Photo Credit:
Photo Credit: Direct Solar Energy, VT
DIVISION 1
NEW ENGLAND
Division 1 contains the New England states –
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. While this
region is not typically associated with a strong
solar resource, a rooftop solar photovoltaic
(PV) system installed in Portland, Maine produces over 90% of the electricity on an annual
basis as a comparable system operating in Miami, Florida.14 Coupled with the highest average utility rates in the nation (16.73 cents per
kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the region, nearly 60%
more than the national average of 10.51 cents
per kWh), the New England solar resource is
sufficient for providing positive financial returns on an investment in solar.15
Massachusetts leads the region both in terms
of cumulative installed solar capacity and solar
employment. Though the state ranks sixth in the
nation in terms of solar capacity, it is the second largest employer of solar workers in part
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
due to its focus on the more labor-intensive residential and non-residential market segments
(as compared with the utility-scale segment).
The state’s success with solar in both regards
is the result of a strong policy commitment to
growing the Massachusetts solar market. Chief
among these policy tools is the Massachusetts
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires 15% of each investor-owned utility and
retail electricity supplier’s sales be derived from
new renewable resources by 2020. In 2010, the
state included a solar “carve-out” requirement
that 400 megawatts (MW) of the 15% standard
come from solar facilities within the state. This
requirement gave rise to a strong Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) market, which
provided an additional revenue stream for solar
energy system owners. The 400 MW carve-out
was achieved well ahead of schedule, spurring
the state to increase the requirement to 1,600
9
Solar Jobs
State
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
Solar Capacity*18
2015
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
1,951
25
18
6.8%
191.7
16
731
36
17
1.8%
14.0
36
330
15,095
941
1,367
43
2
34
31
35
11.7%
11
14.6%
2
3
MW under the SREC II program.16 Growth was
also encouraged through robust net metering
rules, which have consistently received the top
grade from Freeing the Grid since 2010.17 In
2015, however, much of the state reached utility aggregate net metering capacity limits and
the year ended without a legislative solution to
raise these caps.
Connecticut is the second largest solar market
and solar employer in the region. Like Massachusetts, the state has supportive net metering
rules and a strong RPS policy (20% from renewables – including solar – by 2020) – though no
solar carve-out. Over 60% of the new solar capacity installed through Q3 2015 was in the residential market segment, driven by both upfront
state rebates and a statewide Solarize program
(another similarity with Massachusetts) that
brings homeowners together to go solar at the
same time and providing them with a discount
on solar equipment and installation. Vermont
ranks third in New England in terms of both solar capacity and employment. Success here has
also been driven by the state RPS (with a carve-
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
8.6%
13.0%
18.6
944.5
17.2
104.4
31
6
34
21
*through Q3 2015
out for distributed generation, including solar)
and strong net metering rules. Under the state
net metering rules, owners of small-scale solar
energy systems receive credits at the retail rate
for any net excess generation, as well as a “solar
adder” for all metered gross kilowatt-hours.
Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island all
have solar capacity of 20 MW or less, and fewer than 1,000 solar workers each. Each state
has an RPS and has received the highest or second-highest grade for its net metering rules.
However, each of the three states faces limitations in its current net metering policy or imminent changes to these policies or utility rate
structures that stand to impact solar deployment moving forward.
As seen at the national level, most solar workers
in the region are employed by companies in the
installation sector. In every New England state,
the proportion of solar workers employed in the
installation sector exceeds the national average (57.4%), with the exception of Connecticut
(53.6%). All states in the region employ manu-
10
New England
Division
National
69.2%
67.0%
25.0%
24.2%
$23.00
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Difficulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
facturing workers at or below the national average (14.5%), though in Vermont, this sector
accounts for a greater percentage of the solar
workforce (18.4% of workers). Connecticut,
Maine, and New Hampshire employ a greater
proportion of sales and distribution workers
than the national average (11.7%). In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the project development sector represents a comparatively larger
percentage of the solar workforce (10.8% nationally), as is the case with ‘Other’ workers in
Maine and Vermont (5.7% nationwide).
Requirements for previous work experience
were close to those observed at the national level, though New England solar employers appear
to place a greater emphasis on post-secondary
education when recruiting new talent. Hiring
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
51.3%
18.5%
51.9%
23.1%
$24.04
$25.00
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
difficulty in the region is nearly identical with
the national trend, with approximately 77% of
employers reporting at least some difficulty in
hiring new workers (compared with nearly 76%
at the national level). Median wages paid to New
England solar installers were a full two dollars
higher than the national median installation
wage. Wages paid to both solar designers and
sales representatives in the region were below
the national median wages for these workers.
Solar designers receive one dollar less per hour
than at the national level; sales representatives
receive nearly five dollars less per hour.
11
Policy Grades19
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)20
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
CT
A
B
27%
2020
-
ME
B
B
40%
2017
20% from ‘Class I’ (including solar)
MA
A
A
15%
2020
1600 MW solar PV by
2020
NH
A
B
24.8%
2025
15% target from new resources, plus an additional 6.03% from existing
sources in 2016
RI
B
B
14.5%
2019
-
-
A
B
55%
2017
State
VT
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
10% must be from ‘new’
sources
15% from ‘new’ renewables
Increases 4% every 3
years up to 75% in 2032
-
0.3% from solar
electric by 2014
1.0% DG by 2017;
increases to 10% by
2032
12
Photo Credit: Direct Solar Energy, VT
CONNECTICUT
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,951
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
132
(6.8%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#25
191.7
#18
154
Connecticut
Connecticut is expected to end 2015 with a firm
hold on its position as the second-largest solar
market in New England. Its cumulative solar
photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed through Q3
2015 of 191.7 megawatts (MW) is more than
that found in Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, and
New Hampshire combined – though lags far behind the 945 MW in Massachusetts, the region’s
solar leader.21 This market activity has supported a commensurate level of solar employment.
As of November 2015, the Connecticut solar
industry supported 1,951 solar workers at 154
companies across the state.
Over 60% of the 62 MW of new solar PV capacity installed in 2015 through Q3 was in the residential market segment. The 38 MW installed
over the first nine months of the year already exceeds all the residential solar installed in 2014
(23 MW) by half.22
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% CT
Solar
Jobs
% CT
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
48.6%
23.8%
10.9%
5.1%
8.6%
10.9%
11.1%
11.3%
12.7%
24.0%
18.6%
10.9%
-
5.5%
7.4%
5.0%
8.1%
13.0%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
9.5%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
CT
Solar
Jobs
% CT
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,047
53.6%
57.4%
81
4.1%
14.5%
566
29.0%
11.7%
166
8.5%
10.8%
92
4.7%
5.7%
Such strong success with residential solar in
2015 can be largely attributed to a concerted
state-level effort to promote the use of solar by
Connecticut homeowners. The upfront rebates
offered by the Connecticut Green Bank through
the Residential Solar Investment Program continued to help fuel growth in the residential market segment.23 In June of last year, the program
was expanded significantly, allowing it to support up to 300 MW of residential solar PV capacity by the end of 2022 (a tenfold increase over
its previous goal of 30 MW).24 In addition, the
Connecticut Green Bank continues to support
the Solarize Connecticut program (administered
by the clean energy marketing non-profit SmartPower), which since its inception in 2012 has led
to the development of 16 MW of residential solar
– nearly one-quarter of which was contracted in
2015.25
Solar employers remain optimistic about
growth. By late 2016, the state solar workforce is
expected to increase by approximately 132 solar
workers, a figure that represents 6.8% growth
over the 2015 employment total.26
15
MAINE
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
330
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
39
(11.7%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#43
18.6
#35
48
Maine
Maine ranks 31st in total installed solar capacity
in the nation and fourth among the six New England states. Maine is fifth in the region in terms
of per capita solar capacity (just under 14 watts
per person) and only slightly ahead of New
Hampshire (11 watts per person). Though the
5.5 megawatts (MW) added last year through
the third quarter represents over 40% growth
in the state’s cumulative 2014 installed capacity27, whether the state is able to maintain strong
positive solar growth remains to be seen. As
of November 2015, the Maine solar industry
supported 330 solar workers at 48 companies
across the state.
While Maine may not stand out to most as an ideal location for solar, a photovoltaic (PV) system
installed in Portland produces over 90% of the
electricity on an annual basis as a comparable
system operating in Miami, Florida28. ResidenDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% ME
Solar
Jobs
% ME
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
19.0%
48.9%
23.8%
-
1.1%
5.1%
-
-
8.6%
-
-
11.3%
26.7%
29.6%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
-
9.0%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
ME
Solar
Jobs
% ME
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
220
66.6%
57.4%
7
2.1%
14.5%
41
12.5%
11.7%
21
6.3%
10.8%
41
12.5%
5.7%
tial utility customers throughout the state also
face some of the most expensive electricity rates
in the nation.29 These two factors, along with the
prospect for utility rates to continue to increase
1-3% per year30 and falling installed costs for solar across the country, make solar an increasingly attractive investment for Mainers.
A comprehensive new solar policy is being actively discussed in Maine. The Maine Public Utilities Commission has been coordinating a stakeholder-driven process to develop an alternative
to the state’s current net metering-only regime.31
Though a final report on the process is not due
to the legislature until January 30, 2016, the latest proposal is designed to help the state achieve
255 MW of total installed solar capacity by 2021,
with specific targets for different market segments.32
Despite policy uncertainty, Maine solar employers remain somewhat optimistic about the
state’s solar industry and employment growth.
By late 2016, the Maine solar industry is expected to realize a net gain of 370 solar workers.33
17
MASSACHUSETTS
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
15,095
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
1,306
(8.6%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#2
944.5
#2
403
Read the full Massachusetts Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Massachusetts
As in previous years, Massachusetts remained
a national leader in solar throughout 2015. By
Q3 2015, its cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity had grown to nearly 945
megawatts (MW).34 Though the state ranks just
outside of the top five in terms of total installed
capacity, its focus on the more labor-intensive
residential and non-residential market segments (as compared with the utility-scale segment) has contributed to its ranking as 2nd in
the nation for solar employment. As of November 2015, the Massachusetts solar industry supported 15,095 solar workers.
To date, Massachusetts’ solar growth has been
largely driven by the non-residential market
segment, which represented nearly 70% of
the state’s cumulative installed solar capacity
through Q3 2015. While the first quarter of the
year was strongest Q1 ever for this market segDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% MA
Solar
Jobs
% MA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
22.4%
48.7%
23.8%
4.2%
6.7%
8.6%
3.8%
8.5%
11.3%
13.4%
24.2%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
4.5%
4.9%
8.1%
1.9%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
6.7%
5.1%
MA
Solar
Jobs
% MA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
8,741
57.9%
57.4%
Manufacturing
2,098
13.9%
14.5%
901
6.0%
11.7%
2,811
18.6%
10.8%
544
3.6%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
ment, capacity additions began to slow in Q2 and
Q3 as new projects became subject to the more
restrictive provisions of the SREC II incentive
program and as more and more parts of the state
reached net metering program caps.35 Despite
concerted efforts to arrive at a legislative solution to the net metering issue, the year ended
without these caps being raised.36 As a result of
these factors, Massachusetts is expected to have
experienced its first-ever annual decline in the
non-residential sector in 2015.37 By contrast,
the state’s residential market segment remains
strong. Nearly 90 MW of capacity was installed
in this market segment in Massachusetts during
the year through Q3, which compares favorably
with the 64 MW of residential capacity installed
in all of 2014.38
Despite policy uncertainty, Massachusetts remains one of the nation’s strongest solar markets, with 2016 installed capacity across all market segments projected to exceed that expected
by the end of 2015. Solar employers in the state
are optimistic – though guardedly so – about employment growth over the next twelve months.39
19
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
731
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
13
(1.8%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#36
14.0
#17
73
New Hampshire
Though a relatively small solar market, New
Hampshire has seen rapid growth in installed
capacity since 2014, a trend that is expected to
continue within the confines of current state
policies impacting solar development. As of October 2015, New Hampshire had 14 megawatts
(MW) of cumulative operating solar photovoltaic
(PV) capacity, with nearly half of this total (6.5
MW) coming online in the first three quarters of
the year.40
Such rapid growth has been a strong driver for
solar employment. As of November 2015, the
New Hampshire solar industry employed 731
solar workers at 73 companies across the state.
The state’s solar growth has been supported by
rebate programs offered statewide and to customers of certain utilities. Throughout much of
2015, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission offered rebates for both residential and
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% NH
Solar
Jobs
% NH
Overall
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
17.6%
48.2%
23.8%
-
2.4%
8.6%
11.5%
2.8%
11.3%
23.9%
25.8%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
8.0%
8.3%
8.1%
8.2%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
1.3%
5.1%
NH
Solar
Jobs
% NH
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
471
64.5%
57.4%
Manufacturing
110
15.0%
14.5%
113
15.5%
11.7%
24
3.3%
10.8%
12
1.7%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
non-residential solar customers.41, 42 In Q4 2015,
the residential rebate was reduced from $0.75
per watt to $0.50 per watt up to the lesser of
$2,500 or 30% of project cost.43 In addition, New
Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) offered
its own solar rebates through 2015.44
Aided by such incentives, New Hampshire is on
the cusp of reaching its 50 MW net metering cap.
Of the four major utilities in the state, NHEC and
Liberty Utilities have already met their allocation of the statewide limit.45, 46 Eversource and
Unitil are within only a few megawatts each of
reaching their own caps.47, 48 The utility response
to reaching these caps has varied. NHEC continues to offer its customers net metering (albeit at
a reduction in the value of exported electricity)
while Liberty Utilities has ceased offering net
metering to its customers altogether.49, 50
Perhaps as a result of this policy uncertainty,
New Hampshire solar employers anticipate paltry employment growth over the next twelve
months. By late 2016, the state solar workforce
is expected to increase by only 1.8%.51
21
RHODE ISLAND
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
941
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
138
(14.6%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#34
17.2
#11
26
Rhode Island
As of Q3 2015, just over 17 megawatts (MW)
of solar photovoltaic capacity were installed
throughout Rhode Island, with 3.2 MW (nearly
20% of the state’s total capacity) coming online
in the first three quarters of the year.52 This internal capacity growth, as well as the state’s
small size and proximity to Connecticut and
Massachusetts – the two largest solar markets
in the region – has given rise to a strong solar
workforce. As of November 2015, the Rhode Island solar industry supported 941 solar workers at 26 companies across the state.
Solar in Rhode Island continues to benefit from a
number of supportive state policies. The state’s
Renewable Energy Standard requires that 14.5%
of retail electricity sales be supplied from renewable resources by the end of 2019.53 Rhode
Island also has net metering and interconnection policies favorable to solar development, reDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% RI
Solar
Jobs
% RI
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
23.5%
48.9%
23.8%
-
4.3%
8.6%
3.3%
10.6%
11.3%
11.1%
24.7%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
3.9%
6.3%
8.1%
6.7%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
5.9%
5.1%
RI
Solar
Jobs
% RI
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
661
70.2%
57.4%
Manufacturing
71
7.6%
14.5%
60
6.4%
11.7%
119
12.6%
10.8%
30
3.2%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
ceiving a grade of “B” for each policy from Freeing the Grid.54 In addition to these policies, the
Commerce Corporation Renewable Energy Fund
(REF) has served as a significant driver of new
solar development.55
The near future holds both opportunities and potential challenges for solar. In the spring of 2015,
National Grid announced its Renewable Energy
Growth Small Scale Solar initiative, a performance-based incentive program which aims to
bring 12 MW of small-scale solar online over the
next four years and potentially more significant
quantities of medium- and large-scale systems.56
In 2015, the Public Utilities Commission began
investigating the impacts of net metering and
distributed energy resources in a revenue neutral rate design proceeding.57 However, National Grid withdrew the rate proposal filed under
this process, ending the proceeding without any
changes to rate design.58 New dockets on rate design are expected in early 2016.
Nearly 140 new solar workers are expected by
the end of 2016, nearly 15% growth from 2015.59
23
VERMONT
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,367
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
178
(13.0%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#31
104.4
#3
77
Read the full Vermont Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Vermont
The Vermont solar industry has grown quickly
over the last few years, reaching a cumulative installed solar capacity of just over 100 megawatts
(MW) by Q3 2015.60 This rapid increase, along
with the growth of several Vermont-based solar
manufacturers, has been a strong driver of solar employment. As of November 2015, the state
solar industry employed 1,367 solar workers, at
77 companies across the state.
Vermont’s solar success can be seen as the product of supportive and stable state policies. In
June 2015, the state enacted a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that requires all utilities to
derive 55% of annual retail sales from renewable resources by the beginning of 2017. This requirement increases through 2032, when it caps
off at 75%. The RES also includes a carve-out for
distributed renewable generation (including solar) of 1% by 2017, increasing to 10% by 2032,
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% VT
Solar
Jobs
% VT
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
25.9%
48.6%
23.8%
0.9%
-
8.6%
-
-
11.3%
27.2%
29.4%
18.6%
8.1%
-
5.5%
8.1%
6.6%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
5.1%
VT
Solar
Jobs
%
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
804
58.8%
57.4%
Manufacturing
252
18.4%
14.5%
94
6.9%
11.7%
64
4.7%
10.8%
153
11.2%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
for approximately 25 MW per year.61
Growth has also been driven by a strong net metering policy. Statewide, for systems under 15
kilowatts (kW) in size, solar customers receive
an additional “solar adder” of $0.20 minus the
utility’s retail rate ($0.19 less retail for larger
systems) for all metered gross kilowatt-hours
(kWh) their system produces for 10 years.62
However, changes to the statewide net metering
rules are currently pending at the PSB.63
Vermont stands out as one of only a handful of
states that have taken steps to address certain
solar soft costs – or non-hardware balance of
system costs (e.g., local administrative or business process costs) – through its adoption of
a statewide expedited permitting process for
small-scale solar energy systems.64
Vermont solar employers anticipate strong employment growth over the next twelve months.
By late 2016, the state solar workforce is expected to increase by 178 solar workers, a figure that
represents 13% growth over the 2015 employment total.65
25
Photo Credit: Aeon Solar, NY
DIVISION 2
MIDDLE ATLANTIC
The Middle Atlantic Division is comprised of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The
average utility rate in this region is 13.22 cents
per kWh, which is higher than the national average of 10.51 cents per kWh.66 While this region
is not typically associated with a strong solar resource, a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system
installed in New York City, New York, produces
over 87% of the electricity on an annual basis as
a comparable system operating in Miami,
Florida.67
In terms of jobs, New York is ranked seventh
in the nation in jobs per capita and has experienced rapid growth, resulting in numerous installation sector jobs. New York has the highest
number of solar workers in the Middle Atlantic
Division and New Jersey leads the Division in
installed capacity, ranking third nationally. New
York ranks seventh in installed capacity as a result of the state’s continued investment in solar
energy.
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
In 2015, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
announced that the state will lead a 10-year, $1
billion program which will result in 3,000 MW
of PV installations by 2022.68 In July 2015, a
New York utility filed a petition with the New
York Public Services Commission (NYPSC) requesting an exemption from interconnecting
additional net metering systems, noting that it
would soon hit the 6% renewable energy cap.69
In October 2015, NYPSC suspended caps on retail rate net metering for rooftop systems.70
During 2015, there were several large installations around New Jersey. New Jersey Resources Clean Energy Ventures completed a 9.9 MW
grid-connected solar farm in Howell and a 6.1
MW system in North Hanover.71 The Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), which
serves approximately three-quarters of New
Jersey residents, constructed two new solar
farms on previous landfills in Bordentown and
Deptford.72 In December 2015, PSE&G complet26
Solar Jobs
State
Jobs
National
Rank
New Jersey
7,071
5
New York
Pennsylvania
8,250
2,498
4
20
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumilative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
12
10.3%
1,573.8
3
21
40
ed its 27th solar farm on the former L&D Landfill in Burlington County73 The 12.9 MW project
will provide enough energy for approximately
2,000 New Jersey homes.74
In April 2015, Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted to adopt a proposed final
rule and to receive public comments on the proposed changes, which would increase the cap on
net energy metering from 110% to 200% of a
resident’s annual power usage.75 The proposed
final rule will undergo an 18-month review by
Pennsylvania’s legislature before it goes into effect in September 2016.76
Most jobs within the Division are in the installation sector. New Jersey and New York employ
a greater percentage of installers than other
sectors and are above the national average for
installation sector workers (57.4%). Conversely,
Pennsylvania employs fewer installers (40.1%)
than the national average. Solar firms in Pennsylvania employ significantly more African
Americans (17.9%) compared to firms nationally (5.2%). Pennsylvania and New York employ
more women than firms nationally, while firms
in New Jersey employ fewer women.
Middle Atlantic Division hiring requirements
varied considerably from those nationally. Division firms placed greater emphasis on previous work experience and education than firms
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Solar Capacity
11.6%
19.9%
569.8
250.4
7
14
*through Q3 2015
reported nationwide. Middle Atlantic Division
hiring difficulty and median wages also varied
from national findings. Division firms experienced more difficulty in hiring with 32% reporting hiring as “very difficult” compared to
24% reporting so nationally. The Division sales
representative median wage is $26.44 per hour,
which is slightly lower than the national median
of $28.85 per hour.
Many of the Middle Atlantic Division states have
strong policy incentives for solar power. New
Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania received an
A for net metering and a B for interconnection.
77, 78, 79
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the New York Public Utility Commission
to establish a new Clean Energy Standard to provide 50% of the state’s energy from renewable
sources by 2030.80 The RPS targets for New York
and New Jersey will likely stimulate solar in the
Division. While Pennsylvania does have a RPS,
the Commonwealth’s target (8.0% by 2021), is
less than half the target for New Jersey (17.880%
by 2021).81, 82 In addition, the solar carve out in
Pennsylvania (0.5% by 2021) is substantially
lower than neighboring New Jersey (3.47% by
2021).83, 84 Despite the lower renewable energy
targets, Pennsylvania’s solar market is expected
to grow by nearly 20% in 2016, nearly doubling
the projected market growth of the other states
in the Middle Atlantic Division.
27
Middle Atlantic
Division
National
87.2%
67.0%
32.0%
24.2%
$20.80
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
A
B
20.38%
2021
NY
A
B
29%
2015
B
57.5%
51.7%
10.3%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
NJ
A
9.7%
-
Policy Grades
PA
17.1%
$24.52
Assembly Worker
Net
InterconMeter. nection
34.9%
$26.44
Designer
State
57.4%
8%
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
2021
RPS Notes
17.88% Class I energy
sources, including solar
PV
RPS extended until Feb.
2016. Governor issued
mandate that state derive
50% of state’s energy
from renewable sources
by 2030
8% Tier I energy sources, including solar PV, by
2021
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
4.1% Solar
0.5% Solar
28
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
29
Photo courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
NEW JERSEY
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
7,071
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
727
(10.3%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#5
1,573.8
#12
528
Read the full New Jeresy Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
New Jersey
Through Q3 2015, approximately 122.6 megawatts (MW) of PV capacity were installed in
New Jersey, and the state is on track to equal or
exceed the 239.8 MW installed in the previous
year.85 The state reached a cumulative installed
PV capacity of approximately 1,574 MW by Q3
2015.86 As of November 2015, there were 7,071
solar workers employed in New Jersey.
In August 2015, New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie signed legislation that authorized the
state’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to cap
aggregate net metering at 2.9% of total annual
kilowatt-hours (kWh) sold in the state during
the previous 12-month period.87 Prior to this
legislation, state regulators capped net metering
at 2.5% of peak demand, although historically the BPU permitted net metering beyond this
limit.88 During 2015, there were several large
installations around the state. New Jersey ReDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% NJ
Solar
Jobs
% NJ
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
16.2%
46.4%
23.8%
0.7%
9.4%
8.6%
10.9%
18.8%
11.3%
12.5%
24.9%
18.6%
0.7%
-
5.5%
7.4%
3.6%
8.1%
3.5%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
13.3%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
NJ
Solar
Jobs
% NJ
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
4,303
60.9%
57.4%
697
9.9%
14.5%
769
10.9%
11.7%
733
10.4%
10.8%
570
8.1%
5.7%
sources Clean Energy Ventures completed a 9.9
MW grid-connected solar farm in Howell and a
6.1 MW system in North Hanover.89 Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), which
serves approximately three-quarters of New Jersey residents, constructed two new solar farms
on previous landfills in Bordentown, NJ, and
Deptford, NJ, in December 2014.90 In December
2015, PSE&G completed its 27th solar farm on
the former L&D Landfill in Burlington County,
NJ.91 The 12.9 MW project will provide enough
energy for approximately 2,000 homes.92
The residential market is expected to remain
strong and continues to be driven in part by
third-party ownership. In 2016, residential PV
installations are expected to outpace non-residential PV for the first time.93 The non-residential market is expected to struggle in 2016 as
a result of the over-supply of SRECs.94 In 2016,
New Jersey’s year-over-year installed capacity
is expected to grow substantially and the state’s
solar market is projected to add 728 solar workers.
31
NEW YORK
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
8,250
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
957
(11.6%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#4
569.8
#21
631
Read the full New York Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
New York
Through Q3 2015, 174 megawatts (MW) of PV
capacity were installed in New York, a roughly
17% increase in the state’s 2014 installed capacity.95 Cumulative PV capacity in New York equals
approximately 570 MW.96 As of November 2015,
there were 8,250 solar jobs throughout the solar
market in New York.
The Public Service Commission (NYPSC) adopted the new, “Reforming the Energy Vision,” plan
which will alter the rate structure for utilities
operating within the state.97 The February 2015
Order set a framework for utilities to function as
Distributed System Platform (DSP) providers.98
In April 2015, the NYPSC issued an order as part
of the Transition Plan which changed remote net
metering from monetary to volumetric crediting.99 In July 2015 state staff proposed a new rate
structure and utility business model to promote
the use of distributed energy resources.100 Also
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% NY
Solar
Jobs
% NY
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
26.9%
47.6%
23.8%
9.9%
9.0%
8.6%
7.4%
15.7%
11.3%
13.5%
22.7%
18.6%
18.8%
-
5.5%
6.7%
4.1%
8.1%
4.0%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
15.9%
5.1%
NY
Solar
Jobs
% NY
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
5829
70.7%
57.4%
Manufacturing
800
9.7%
14.5%
974
11.8%
11.7%
326
3.9%
10.8%
322
3.9%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
in that month, the NYPSC adopted a framework
for shared remewable energy with the first phase
beginning on October 19, 2015.101 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state
will lead a 10-year, $1 billion program which will
lead to 3,000 MW of PV installations by 2022.102
Governor Cuomo also announced that the State
University of New York (SUNY) public university system will install solar energy systems at
all of the 64 SUNY campuses by 2020. 103 In July
2015, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. filed a
petition requesting an exemption from interconnecting additional net metering systems, noting
that based on applications it would soon hit the
6% renewable energy cap.104 In October 2015,
NYPSC suspended caps on retail rate net metering for rooftop systems.105
The outlook for the residential PV market remains strong, especially with NYSERDA’s MW
Block program driving installations.106 Jobs are
predicted to increase by 11.6%, or 957 jobs, in
2016 and the state’s installed capacity is expected to more than double from 2015.
33
PENNSYLVANIA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
2,498
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
496
(19.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#20
250.4
#40
493
Pennsylvania
In 2015, 5.6 megawatts (MW) of PV capacity
were installed in Pennsylvania, a decrease from
approximately 10 MW installed in the previous
year.107 The Commonwealth’s cumulative photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity through Q3 2015
was approximately 250.4 MW.108 As of November
2015, there were 2,498 solar workers employed
at 493 companies throughout Pennsylvania.
In 2015, Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (“Standard”), now in its eleventh
year, required utilities to derive 5.0% of the
state’s energy from Tier I sources, which include renewable sources such as solar PV.109 The
Standard includes a 0.144% solar carve-out for
2015, which is set to increase gradually to 0.5%
by 2021.110 In 2015, the price of Tier I alternative
energy credits doubled to $20 from 2014, while
solar credits have decreased from $325 in 2010
to an average of approximately $30 in 2015.111,
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% PA
Solar
Jobs
% PA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
31.8%
47.8%
23.8%
6.4%
3.2%
8.6%
10.2%
5.9%
11.3%
18.5%
24.3%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
7.8%
6.5%
8.1%
17.9%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
9.1%
5.1%
PA
Solar
Jobs
% PA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
1001
40.1%
57.4%
Manufacturing
660
26.4%
14.5%
442
17.7%
11.7%
182
7.3%
10.8%
213
8.5%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
In April 2015, the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) proposed a final rule which would
increase the cap on net electric metering from
110% to 200% of a resident’s annual power usage.113 The final rule will undergo an 18-month
review by the state legislature before it goes
into effect in September 2016.114 Governor Tom
Wolf’s proposed budget included $50 million to
restore the solar rebate program which ended
in 2013 when the $100 million of funding was
exhausted.115 At the time of writing, however,
no budget for 2016 had been approved.116 In
April 2015, the PUC reached a settlement with
FirstEnergy and approved fixed charge increases
for the company’s four Pennsylvania subsidiaries.117 The PUC also reached a settlement with
PECO and PPL which permitted PECO to increase
monthly fixed charges by 18.5%, while the fixed
rate for PPL would remain unchanged. 118, 119
112
Pennsylvania is projected to add approximately
497 jobs in 2016 and the Commonwealth’s yearover-year installed capacity total is grow many
times over.
35
Photo Credit: 02 EMC
DIVISION 3
EAST NORTH CENTRAL
The East North Central Division includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The Division sits slightly below average for utility rates - 9.87 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for
the region, compared to 10.51 cents per kWh
nationally - making it somewhat difficult for solar to compete.120 Yet, even while the area is not
known for its solar output, a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed in Indianapolis,
Indiana produces 75% of the electricity on an
annual basis as a comparable system operating
in Phoenix, Arizona.121 Furthermore, with major
developments like Duke Energy’s 24 megawatt
(MW) facility in Indiana set to come online in
2016, optimism for solar in the Division continues to grow.122
Ohio leads the Division in solar employment
and its 107 MW capacity ranks it 20th in the nation for installed capacity. Recent policy changes have put the future of solar in question until
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
2017, as Ohio implemented a two year freeze
on its renewable portfolio standard (RPS).123
Despite policy uncertainty regarding the state’s
RPS, solar employers across the state remain
optimistic about growth. It is expected that over
970 solar workers will be added to the state
workforce by the end of 2016, representing
20% growth over the current figure.
Michigan currently maintains the lowest levels of installed capacity in the Division, though
non-residential capacity additions more than
doubled over the previous year due to the introduction of the state’s first community solar
programs.124 2016 promises a dramatic acceleration of this shift to larger projects, all of which
should largely be unaffected by proposed changes to the state’s net metering policy currently under discussion by the state legislature. 125
Despite the successful culmination of the state’s
existing RPS at the end of 2015, and the fact that
36
Solar Jobs
State
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Ohio
Wisconsin
Solar Capacity*
2015
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
3,483
14
33
13.20%
57.0
26
4,811
11
22
20.20%
106.9
20
1,567
2,779
1,941
30
18
26
36
32
27
the future of Michigan energy policy remains
the subject of ongoing debate in Lansing, the local solar industry is optimistic, with projections
of a dramatic ramp-up throughout 2016.126
Indiana experienced a significant lull in solar
capacity additions through Q3 2015- Approximately 7.3 MW of solar capacity were installed,
significantly less than the 58.5 MW in 2014. Illinois and Wisconsin followed the same trend,
though not as dramatically. However, Illinois’
RPS includes a modest carve-out percentage,
which should positively impact its solar industry until 2023.
Similar to the national trend, the majority of solar workers in the Division are in the installation
sector. With the exception of Wisconsin (52.1%)
and Illinois (46.8%), the Division exceeds the
national average (57.4%) of solar workers employed in the installation sector. All states in the
Division employ manufacturing workers near
or above the national average (14.5%), with the
exception of Indiana, which has a substantially
smaller share of manufacturing workers (3.7%).
Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio employ a lower
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
11.70%
119.7
7.60%
21.9
14.30%
17.9
19
33
30
*through Q3 2015
proportion of sales & distribution workers than
the national average (11.7%). In Wisconsin, the
project development sector represents a larger
percentage of the solar workforce than the national average (10.8%. The same trend follows
for the ‘Other’ category of workers in all East
North Central states with the exception of Illinois (5.7% nationwide).
Requirements for previous work experience
mirror those observed at the national level,
though East North Central solar employers
seem to place less emphasis on post-secondary
education when recruiting new talent. The Division follows the national trend in hiring difficulty, with approximately 77% of employers
reporting at least some difficulty in hiring new
workers (compared with nearly 76% at the national level). Wages paid to solar installers, solar designers, and sales representatives in the
Division are all higher than the national median wages for these workers. Solar designers in
the Division receive nearly five dollars more per
hour than those nationally; sales representatives in the Division receive roughly two dollars
more per hour.
37
East North
Central Division
National
67.2%
67.0%
26.3%
24.2%
$24.50
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
The majority of the East North Central Division
states have strong policy incentives for solar
power. Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio received a B
or higher grade for net metering and interconnection.127 Ohio Governor John Kasich directed
a freeze on clean energy standards until 2017,
at which point a 1% annual RPS in-crease will
commence.128 The RPS target of at least 10% for
every state will likely stimulate solar in the Division. Unfortunately, Illinois is the only state with
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
30.9%
10.9%
50.8%
22.9%
$31.25
$31.25
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
a moderately robust RPS (25% by 2023). Additionally, Indiana and Ohio are the only states in
the Division with solar carve-outs, at 0.5% Solar and 1.5% Solar PV, respectively.129 Despite
the freeze on clean-energy standards, Ohio’s
solar market is expected to grow by over 20%
in 2016, nearly 6% more than any of the other
states in the East North Central Division.
38
Policy Grades
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
IL
B
A
25%
2023
-
IN
B
B
10%
2025
-
1.5% Solar PV, 0.25%
Distributed Generation
MI
B
C
10%
2015
-
OH
A
A
10%
2026
WI
D
D
10%
2015
State
Frozen until 2017, before
resuming 1% annual increase to 2026
-
-
0.5% Solar
-
Photo Credit: True South Solar
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
39
ILLINOIS
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
3,483
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
458
(13.2%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#14
57.0
#33
274
Illinois
Approximately 3 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity was installed in Illinois by Q3 2015, significantly less than the 6.3 MW the previous
year - bringing the state’s cumulative installed
capacity to 57 MW.130 As of November 2015,
the Illinois solar industry employed 3,483 solar
workers (the second most in the region) at 274
companies across the state.
As state solar rebates and grants expired in December 2015, a bill was passed by the legislature
to extend the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Solar and Wind Energy Rebate and Grant program through 2020.
131
According to the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) a “supplemental solar procurement”,
approved in January 2015, has the capacity to
double the total solar installed on rooftops in the
state. The Illinois Power Agency plans to spend,
roughly, $30 million dollars on the new rooftop
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% IL
Solar
Jobs
% IL
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
36.2%
47.9%
23.8%
8.8%
5.2%
8.6%
10.6%
14.1%
11.3%
18.1%
21.5%
18.6%
5.9%
-
5.5%
8.7%
5.3%
8.1%
14.4%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
11.8%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
IL
Solar
Jobs
% IL
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,631
46.8%
57.4%
822
23.6%
14.5%
752
21.6%
11.7%
154
4.4%
10.8%
126
3.6%
5.7%
installations.132 Currently, the Illinois Renewable
Portfolio Standard (RPS) calls for 25% of the total energy produced in the state to be from renewables by 2025.
A Clean Jobs Bill was also proposed last year,
which set out to increase energy produced by renewables to 35% by 2030.133 Though the solar
installation numbers for 2015 are not as significant as those from the previous year, there is reason to believe demand for solar will continue to
increase. For instance, in Springfield, City Water,
Light and Power (CWLP) provides rebates up to
$500 per kilowatt (kW) to all its customers who
install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, up to a
maximum of $2,500 per household and $5,000
per business.134 Customers can receiver this rebate if their systems fall in the range of 0.5 kW
to 25 kW.
Employers are optimistic about continued solar
workforce growth. By the end of 2016, the state
is expected to add nearly 460 solar workers, at a
growth rate of 13.2%.135
41
INDIANA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,567
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
183
(11.7%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#30
119.7
#36
72
Indiana
Indiana’s solar industry, as of November 2015,
primarily accounted for 1,567 employment opportunities throughout the state. Through Q3
2015, approximately 7.3 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity were installed for the year, significantly less than the 58.5 MW in 2014 - bringing
the state’s cumulative installed capacity to 119.7
MW.136
The 119.7 MW of solar energy currently present in Indiana ranks them, nationally, in the top
20 for installed solar capacity. In late December
2015, two solar sites, utilizing over 40,000 solar
panels, came online in Southwest Indiana (Vigo
and Clay counties). The sites are expected to produce enough energy to power 500 homes.137 The
Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) built
a 16-acre solar farm in the town of Pendleton.
Though the energy generated does not directly
feed into the Pendleton area, the energy will reDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% IN
Solar
Jobs
% IN
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
20.0%
47.3%
23.8%
1.1%
1.7%
8.6%
6.4%
6.4%
11.3%
24.2%
21.5%
18.6%
2.6%
-
5.5%
9.2%
8.0%
8.1%
18.7%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
7.2%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
IN
Solar
Jobs
% IN
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,344
85.7%
57.4%
58
3.7%
14.5%
41
2.6%
11.7%
43
2.7%
10.8%
81
5.2%
5.7%
duce rate spikes for customers during the winter
and summer months, when electricity use typically increases.138
Duke Energy has partnered with the Department of the Navy to install a 24 MW facility at
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane, Indiana.
Over 75,000 solar panels will be involved in
the project that spans 145 acres – which would
make this one of the largest solar arrays in Indiana.139 Duke and NSA Crane plan to begin construction in early 2016. Indiana Michigan Power
(I&M), based in Ft. Wayne, has also invested in
solar power. I&M’s first solar facility, located in
Marion, is capable of producing electricity for
350 homes.140 I&M has future plans for solar at
three more sites, all of which will be up and running by the end of 2016. Indiana Michigan Power
estimates the four sites together will represent a
total 15 MW of solar capacity.
Solar employment is expected to increase by
11.7% in 2016, representing the addition of 183
solar workers.
43
MICHIGAN
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
2,779
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
397
(14.3%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#18
17.9
#32
202
Read the full Michigan Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Michigan
As of September 2015, approximately 3.5 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity has been installed
in Michigan, already surpassing that installed
the previous year and nearly doubling that installed in 2013, bringing cumulative installed
capacity in the state near the 20 MW mark – a
milestone likely reached by year’s end.141 Hiring
by the local solar industry has kept pace, and as
of November 2015 there are 2,779 solar workers employed throughout the solar value chain
across the state.
In recent years, individual consumer demand
has driven the lion’s share of Michigan’s solar activity, with residential installations comprising
nearly 50% of all installed capacity in the state
since 2011.142 However, 2015 saw this pattern
begin to change. Non-residential capacity more
than doubled over the previous year – a trend
likely to continue in light of the recent introDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% MI
Solar
Jobs
% MI
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
20.5%
47.9%
23.8%
6.8%
4.1%
8.6%
2.3%
4.6%
11.3%
18.4%
22.3%
18.6%
2.3%
-
5.5%
4.2%
6.2%
8.1%
6.8%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
11.5%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
MI
Solar
Jobs
% MI
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,897
68.2%
57.4%
383
13.8%
14.5%
24
0.9%
11.7%
276
9.9%
10.8%
200
7.2%
5.7%
duction of the state’s first community solar programs.143 The state also witnessed its first-ever
utility-scale solar development during the year
– a 1.1 MW installation just outside of Ann Arbor
laying claim to the title of “Michigan’s largest.”144
The coming year promises a dramatic acceleration of this shift to larger projects, all of which
would largely be unaffected by proposed changes to the state’s net metering policy currently under discussion by the state legislature.145
Despite the successful culmination of the state’s
existing renewable portfolio standard at the end
of 2015, and the ongoing debate over future of
Michigan energy policy in Lansing, the local solar
industry projects a dramatic ramp-up in 2016.
Residential, non-residential, and utility-scale
market segments all expected to experience significant growth, and employers in the state have
begun hiring accordingly.146 Likewise, hiring in
the state is expected to continue, with employers
projecting the addition of nearly 380 new solar
workers in 2016, expanding the Michigan solar
workforce by more than 14% over the course of
the year.147
45
l
OHIO
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
4,811
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
972
(20.2%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#11
106.9
#22
235
Ohio
Approximately 4.4 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity were installed in Ohio through Q3 2015,
bringing the state’s cumulative installed capacity to nearly 107 MW.148 The local solar industry,
as of November 2015, accounted for 4,811 solar
workers at 235 companies throughout the Buckeye state.
The 107 MW of solar energy currently present in
Ohio ranks them in the top 15 nationally for installed solar capacity – which is enough solar to
power over 12,000 homes. In 2014, investments
in Ohio solar capped the $36 million mark.149 In
June 2015, Gov. John Kasich signed Senate Bill
310, which implemented a two year freeze on
benchmarks for renewable energy and energy
efficiency in Ohio - resulting in a decrease in solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) that lower
the total cost of solar.150 However, another bill to
place an indefinite freeze on Ohio’s clean energy
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% OH
Solar
Jobs
% OH
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
19.6%
48.4%
23.8%
1.0%
1.9%
8.6%
-
2.9%
11.3%
21.6%
23.2%
18.6%
8.8%
-
5.5%
8.3%
7.1
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
10.1%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
OH
Solar
Jobs
% OH
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
2,869
59.6%
57.4%
834
17.3%
14.5%
351
7.3%
11.7%
423
8.8%
10.8%
334
6.9%
5.7%
standards was deemed ‘unacceptable’ by Kasich,
adding that future plans include a mix of low cost
energy sources.151
Ever since Ohio set goals for clean-energy programs in 2008, there has been a conscious effort
for utility companies to increase their investments in these particular programs. Though the
future of solar in Ohio is still undecided at the
state-level, some communities and the utilities
serving them are taking their own steps to pursue more solar. As an example, a recent agreement between the Sierra Club and American
Electric Power (AEP) could help the community
of Athens quadruple solar capacity in the next
five years.152
Despite policy uncertainty regarding the state
renewable portfolio standard, solar employers
across the state remain optimistic about growth.
It is expected that over 970 solar workers will be
added to the state workforce by the end of 2016,
representing 20% growth over the current figure.
47
l
WISCONSIN
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,941
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
147
(7.6%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#26
21.9
#27
175
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s solar capacity increased slightly in
2015, as approximately 2.1 megawatts (MW) of
solar capacity were installed through September. This activity brings the state’s cumulative
installed capacity to 21.9 MW.153 As of November
2015, the Wisconsin solar industry accounted
for 1,941 solar workers at 175 companies.
The state’s cumulative solar energy capacity
puts it inside the top 30 states for total installed
solar capacity. Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio
Standard (RPS) required every electric provider
in the state to derive 10% of their energy sales
from renewables by the end of 2015.154 The department store Kohl’s, one of the nation’s top five
corporate users of solar, has systems on three
of its Wisconsin stores that together generate
around 500 kilowatts (kW) of energy.155, 156
In October 2015, an appeal of the WE Energies’
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% WI
Solar
Jobs
% WI
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
34.6%
47.5%
23.8%
19.8%
2.2%
8.6%
11.9%
4.6%
11.3%
17.7%
22.9%
18.6%
0.4%
-
5.5%
4.6%
6.9%
8.1%
16.7%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
4.4%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
WI
Solar
Jobs
% WI
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,012
52.1%
57.4%
354
18.2%
14.5%
223
11.5%
11.7%
202
10.4%
10.8%
151
7.8%
5.7%
rate case filed by The Alliance for Solar Choice
(TASC) and Renew Wisconsin was accepted by
a Dane County Circuit Court Judge. The appeal
ended fees on customer-owned generation with
the court deciding that WE Energies did not provide sufficient justification for the charges.157 In
September, Alliant Energy planned a 20-acre solar project that would include 7,600 panels on a
retired coal-ash landfill near Beloit. Total capacity for the solar array is estimated to be nearly 2
MW.158
The number of community solar projects across
the state continued to grow in 2015, with two
new solar gardens, in New Richmond and River
Falls, starting construction last year. At the end
of 2015, there were 13 shared solar projects either completed or under construction in Wisconsin.159
Solar employment is expected to increase over
the next twelve months, with companies across
the state anticipating the addition of 148 solar
workers by the end of 2016. This figure represents 7.6% growth over 2015 employment.
49
Photo Credit:
Curt Tosh's farm solar project, Clean Energy Resource Team
DIVISION 4
WEST NORTH CENTRAL
The West North Central Division is comprised
of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
North Dakota and South Dakota. With abundant
natural and agricultural resources, the average
utility rate in this division is 9.43 cents per kWh,
which is below the national average of 10.52
cents per kWh.160 Solar radiation in these states
is fair ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 kwh/m2/day
making it suitable for solar PV development.161
A number of these states have tapped into other
clean energy sources such as wind and biofuels.
In ethanol production, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota rank at the top in the region as well as
nationally.162 Iowa leads the division and ranks
second in the nation in wind production. Kansas, Minnesota, and North Dakota are also top
wind producing states regionally as well as nationally.163
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
While Minnesota has the highest number of solar workers at 1,995, Missouri leads the division
in cumulative installed capacity with 128.9 MW
of solar PV installed. Missouri will experience
the highest solar jobs growth rate, followed by
Minnesota, and Missouri currently has an active Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) with
a solar carve-out of 2%.164 Minnesota, on the
other hand, has implemented an RPS with a solar carve-out called the Solar Energy Standard,
which requires its large utilities to get 1.5% of
its energy through solar PV.165
Kansas and Iowa are likely to experience noticeable solar jobs growth. While Kansas has an RPS
in place, it was changed from a “standard” to a
“voluntary” goal in 2015.166 In contrast, Iowa
enjoys strong financial state incentives and so-
50
Solar Jobs
State
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri
North Dakota
Nebraska
South Dakota
Solar Capacity*168
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
349
41
44
9.9%
25.0
29
1,854
28
31
21.4%
128.9
17
6.8%
0.4
282
1,995
117
776
319
46
22
48
35
44
47
11.9%
42
3.6%
25
23
24
lar enabling policies such as third-party power
purchase agreements, attractive net-metering
and inter-connection standards.167 North Dakota and South Dakota have limited solar development with cumulative installed capacity of less
than 1 MW per state and is projected to show
insignificant solar growth in 2016. Likewise,
Nebraska has a little over 1 MW of installed solar capacity with insignificant growth projected
for 2016.
All states in the West North Central Division,
with the exception of Minnesota and Nebraska,
have the largest number of solar workers employed in the installation sector. Nearly 950 of
Minnesota’s solar workers are clustered around
the sales and distribution sector and nearly 500
Nebraskan solar workers fall within the project
development sector.
In terms of demographics, Kansas leads the division in employing most women in the solar
industry. 30.4% of Kansas’ solar workforce is
female. Minnesota leads the division in employing individuals with Latino or Hispanic ethnicity
while Iowa employs the highest number of veterans of the US Armed Forces in this division.
West North Central Division’s hiring requireState Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
20.5%
2.5%
5.2
26.6
0.4
1.3
41
28
50
46
50
*through Q3 2015
ments vary considerably from the national requirements. Firms in this Division place greatest emphasis on “previous work experience” at
22.5% which is still significantly below the national preference of 67%. In terms of hiring difficulty, this division parallels the national view
that hiring for solar workers is “somewhat difficult”. The lack of wage data makes it difficult
to compare it to the national wage data, but installers and designers are paid higher than the
national average in this division.
In terms of favorable solar policies, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska received a grade
of “B” for its net-metering policies. Kansas saw
a drop in its net-metering grade from a “B” to a
“C” due to reductions in maximum system size
allowed under net-metering. North Dakota received a grade of “D” for the same reasons as
Kansas and South Dakota received a grade of
F. Adopting IREC’s net-metering model rules
will help these states improve its grade significantly. In terms of inter-connection, Iowa is the
only state in this division to receive a grade of
“B” and Minnesota and South Dakota received a
grade of “C”. The remaining states - Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and Nebraska received a
grade of “F”. Based on this, improved inter-connection policies and the adoption of IREC’s in51
W. N. Central
Division
National
22.5%
67.0%
23.6%
24.2%
$25.00
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
14.4%
1.5%
44.4%
31.9%
-
$31.30
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.90
$26.00
$15.00
Photo Credit: GRID Alternatives
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
52
Policy Grades
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
B
B
105
MW
Exceeded
The state has met its RPS
standard
-
C
F
20%
2020
MN
B
C
25%
2025
MO
B
F
15%
2021
NE
B
F
-
-
ND
D
F
10%
2015
F
C
10%
2015
State
IA
KS
SD
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
20% of utilities peak
demand. Changed from a
“standard” to “voluntary”
in 2015.
-
1.5% of large utility’s
25% electricity sales to be
energy needs from PV
generated using renewand 0.15% from disable sources by 2025
tributed PV by 2020
2% of each incremen15% of its annual retail
tal portfolio requiresale through renewable
ment be met with solar
energy
PV
-
-
Voluntary
-
Voluntary goal. South
Dakota derives significant
energy from hydroelectricity and wind energy
-
53
l
IOWA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
349
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
35
(9.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#41
25.0
#44
47
Iowa
Iowa currently employs 349 solar workers at
a total of 47 companies. These workers spend
more than 50% of their time on solar activities
compared to additional 626 solar workers that
spend less than 50% of their time on solar activities. Approximately 25 megawatts (MW)
of cumulative solar capacity (across all market
segments) was installed through Q3 of 2015,
a small increase from the 2014 aggregate total
of 21 MW170. Approximately one-third of the 25
MW is residential solar, with non-residential installations accounting for the remainder. This
ranks Iowa 29th in the nation in terms of solar
photovoltaic (PV) installations, a drop from the
2014 rank of 21.171
Iowa’s solar growth has been led by a combination of local demand and federal and state
incentives. These include state tax credits, financing options such as third-party power purDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% IA
Solar
Jobs
% IA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
16.0%
47.9%
23.8%
-
3.3%
8.6%
-
4.3%
11.3%
11.9%
24.4%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
7.3%
8.1%
-
Veterans of
the U.S.
11.6%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
2.4%
5.1%
IA
Solar
Jobs
% IA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
147
42.0%
57.4%
Manufacturing
75
21.6%
14.5%
48
13.8%
11.7%
44
12.6%
10.8%
35
10.0%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
chase agreements, and attractive interconnection standards and net metering policies.172 Iowa
has a strong net metering policy which is capped
at 500 kW for individual systems, with no limit
specified for aggregate capacity.173
In 2014, the Iowa Utilities Board issued a Notice
of Inquiry on distributed generation (DG) and
solicited comments on the potential benefits and
challenges of DG.174 A workshop followed to discuss proposed changes to the Board’s interconnection rules which triggered the Board to issue
an order soliciting additional comments. The IUB
is currently reviewing the comments which will
be followed by a rule-making proceeding.
Iowa enjoys strong bi-partisan public support
for solar, wind, and energy efficiency. A poll conducted in 2014 shows 91% support increase use
of solar energy, including 85% of Republicans,
96% of Democrats, and 92% of Independents.175
Iowa will see an increase in installed solar PV capacity in all market segments in the coming year,
driving an increase in solar employment of nearly 10%.176
55
l
KANSAS
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
282
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
34
(11.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#46
5.2
#47
32
Kansas
Kansas currently employs 282 solar workers at
a total of 32 companies throughout the state,
ranking it 46th in the nation in terms of solar
employment. Kansas has a cumulative 5.2 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity
as of Q3 2015.177 Estimates show that Kansas has
the potential to produce 25% of its electricity
through rooftop solar panels.178
Kansas’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requires
its investor-owned utilities to generate 20% of
peak demand capacity from renewable sources
by the year 2020. However, in 2015, Kansas’s
RPS was changed from a “standard” to a “voluntary” goal.179 Kansas also offers a net metering
policy that caps residential projects at 25 kW
and non-residential projects at 200 kW and allows roll-over of excess generation to the next
month. However, any excess generation at the
end of the year is lost.180 The net metering sysDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% KS
Solar
Jobs
% KS
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
30.4%
46.3%
23.8%
-
4.2%
8.6%
-
9.6%
11.3%
16.9%
24.3%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
5.3%
7.6%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
5.1%
5.1%
KS
Solar
Jobs
% KS
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
182
64.5%
57.4%
Manufacturing
32
11.3%
14.5%
28
9.9%
11.7%
18
6.3%
10.8%
23
8.0%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
tem size limits for both residential and non-residential projects were lowered in 2015.
Midwest Energy, an electric cooperative located
in Hays, became the first utility in Kansas to offer a community solar garden option to its customers. Midwest Energy partnered with Clean
Energy Collective, a company that has pioneered
the model of delivering clean power-generation
through partnerships with utility customers.181
In 2014, IKEA also installed the largest solar array system in the state consisting of 2,394 panels
and producing approximately 986,800 kWh per
year at its Merriam store.182
Kansas solar employers expect to add 34 solar
workers by the end of 2016, a figure that represents 11.9% growth over its current workforce total.
57
l
MINNESOTA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,995
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
410
(20.5%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#22
26.6
#25
136
Read the full Minnesota Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Minnesota
Minnesota’s solar industry currently employees
1,995 solar workers which ranks it 22nd in the
nation in terms of solar jobs. There are 136 solar companies and Minnesota’s current installed
solar capacity stands at 26.6 megawatts (MW)
through Q3 of 2015.183
In 2013, Minnesota established a 1.5 % Solar Energy Standard by 2020 requiring its large utilities to get this energy through solar photovoltaics (PV).184 As part of the same law, Xcel Energy
was required to offer a community solar garden
option to its customers. In 2015, Minnesota utility regulators imposed limits of five community
solar gardens that are co-located with a maximum size of 1 MW in response to Xcel energy’s
concerns.185 Minnesota is also the first state in
the nation to set “value of solar tariff”. This gives
the utilities the option to apply the value-of-solar formula in lieu of retail electric rate for credDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% MN
Solar
Jobs
% MN
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
15.4%
47.7%
23.8%
5.1%
3.5%
8.6%
26.3%
4.4%
11.3%
24.5%
21.6%
18.6%
24.8%
-
5.5%
9.8%
5.9%
8.1%
4.6%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
4.6%
5.1%
MN
Solar
Jobs
% MN
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
347
17.4%
57.4%
Manufacturing
348
17.4%
14.5%
949
47.6%
11.7%
230
11.5%
10.8%
120
6.0%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
iting customers for unused electricity.186
The State of Minnesota has strongly supported its solar industry through its Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive program. This program,
administered by the Minnesota Department of
Commerce, provides incentives for PV and solar thermal systems that meet the size and program criteria. Launched in 2013, this program
has an annual budget of up to $15 million for 10
years and runs through 2023. This also includes
$250,000 per year for solar thermal rebates.187
Minnesota is projected to have a bright future in
terms of installed solar PV capacity. The influx of
community solar garden projects as well as utility-scale solar PV projects will be a strong contributor to this. Minnesota is projected to see a
20.5% growth rate in solar jobs in 2016.
59
l
MISSOURI
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,854
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
396
(21.4%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#28
128.9
#31
114
Missouri
Missouri currently employs 1,854 solar workers at a total of 114 companies. The state ranks
28th in the nation for total solar employment. In
terms of cumulative installed solar capacity, the
state has 128.9 megawatts (MW) in operation
as of Q3 2015.188 Missouri has significant solar
potential. Rooftop solar PV could generate an
amount of electricity annually equal to 21% of
the state’s retail electricity sales from the year
2007.189
Missouri has a renewable energy portfolio standard which requires each investor-owned utilities to meet 15% of its annual retail sales with
renewable energy technologies by 2021. This
standard also has a solar carve-out (a portion of
the total renewable percentage requirement that
can only be met with solar technologies) of 2%
of each incremental portfolio requirement.190 All
utilities are required to offer net metering for
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% MO
Solar
Jobs
% MO
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
15.7%
48.4%
23.8%
2.6%
1.7%
8.6%
2.6%
2.7%
11.3%
26.1%
22.5%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
7.9%
8.1%
5.3%
Veterans of
the U.S.
10.1%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
10.0%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
MO
Solar
Jobs
% MO
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,188
64.1%
57.4%
123
6.6%
14.5%
327
17.6%
11.7%
129
7.0%
10.8%
88
4.7%
5.7%
systems up to 100 kW. Any net excess generation
is valued at the utility’s avoided-cost rate and
credited to the customer’s next bill.
Some Missouri utilities offer solar rebates. Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) currently offers a rebate of $1.50/watt.191 However, in 2015
Missouri utilities such as KCP&L and Empire
District Electric Cooperative proposed to significantly increase the fixed portion of the customer’s monthly bill.192
One utility in Missouri has also begun to offer a
Community Solar Garden option. The Platte-Clay
Electric Cooperative currently offers this option
to its customers either through a direct output
purchase or through a long-term lease agreement.193
Missouri will see a 21.4% increase in its solar
workforce by the end of 2016, equivalent to the
net addition of 397 solar workers.
61
l
NEBRASKA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
776
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
19
(2.5%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#35
1.3
#23
21
Nebraska
Nebraska currently employs 776 solar workers at a total of 21 companies ranking it 35th
in the nation in solar employment. In terms of
jobs breakdown by sector, 476 (61%) of these
jobs are with project development firms. The
state has 1.3 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity. However, Nebraska has great solar potential ranking 13th in the
nation.194 It has been suggested that Nebraska
could generate 21% of its energy demand from
rooftop solar panels.195
Nebraska has a net-metering policy that includes
an individual system cap of 25kW. Additionally, customers are credited at the utility’s avoided-cost rate as opposed to the utility’s retail rate
for net excess generation.196
A private developer is working with a municipal utility in Central City, Nebraska and several
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% NE
Solar
Jobs
% NE
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
20.0%
47.4%
23.8%
-
4.0%
5.1%
-
-
8.6%
-
9.9%
11.3%
17.5%
23.2%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
6.8%
7.2
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
NE
Solar
Jobs
% NE
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
295
38.0%
57.4%
1
0.2%
14.5%
2
0.3%
11.7%
476
61.4%
10.8%
1
0.1%
5.7%
local businesses to install a 200 kilowatt (kW)
solar system consisting of 800 solar panels. In
July, 2015, 100 kW was completed making it Nebraska’s largest solar array completed to date. 197
Lincoln Electric System has signed a power purchase agreement to buy power from a 5 MW solar energy system with an expected commercial
operation date of June 2016.198
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and the
City of Scottsbluff are currently pursuing a 100
kW community solar garden which will give consumers access to solar energy. The City of Scottsbluff will be NPPD’s first customer and its building facilities will serve as the first 20 customers
required under the program.199
Nebraska solar employers expect to add 19 solar
workers by the end of 2016, a figure that represents 2.5% growth over its current workforce
total.
63
l
NORTH DAKOTA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
117
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
4
(3.6%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#48
0.4
#42
10
North Dakota
North Dakota’s solar photovoltaic (PV) footprint is relatively small, with only 0.4 megawatts
(MW) of cumulative installed solar capacity as
of Q3 2015.200 This activity has supported 117
solar workers at approximately 10 companies,
ranking it 48th in the nation in terms of state solar employment.
North Dakota has a voluntary renewable portfolio goal that 10% of retail electricity sales be
derived from renewable or recycled energy by
2015.201 North Dakota also has a net metering
policy that has received a grade of “D” from Freeing the Grid, an annual report card for state net
metering and interconnection policies.202 Wind
and biofuels are the most dominant forms of renewable energy in the state. However, North Dakota’s long summer days provide greater solar
potential than parts of Texas and Florida, making it a cost-effective solution for farmers and
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% ND
Solar
Jobs
% ND
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
45.2%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
-
3.0%
11.3%
11.8%
23.2%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
2.2%
7.7%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
5.1%
ND
Solar
Jobs
% ND
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
64
54.8%
57.4%
Manufacturing
7
5.8%
14.5%
15
13.2%
11.7%
11
9.6%
10.8%
19
16.5%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
ranchers to reduce energy costs.203
The Verendrye Electric Cooperative in Velva
hosts the largest solar system with more than
240 solar-powered water pumps.204 Similarly,
many other members of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC)
are integrating small-scale solar generation into
their electric power delivery systems. For example, the Northern Plains and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperatives are jointly exploring a smallscale solar PV system. Some utilities are already
looking at larger systems. Cass County Electric is
planning to offer a 100 kW community solar garden option to its customers, through which its
customers can purchase a portion of the array’s
output.205
Increased education can play a critical role in
expanding the solar industry in North Dakota.206
North Dakota solar employers expect to add 4
solar workers by the end of 2016, a figure that
represents 3.6% growth over its current workforce total.
65
l
SOUTH DAKOTA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
319
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
22
(6.8%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#44
0.4
#24
16
South Dakota
South Dakota currently employs 319 solar
workers at a total of 16 companies throughout
the state. The state ranks it 44th in the nation
in terms of solar employment. South Dakota has
a cumulative 0.4 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity as of Q3 2015207 and has
the potential to generate at least 25% of its annual electricity consumption from rooftop solar
PV.208
South Dakota has a voluntary renewable portfolio goal that 10% of retail electricity sales be
derived from renewable, recycled, or conserved
energy by 2015.209 Hydroelectricity and wind
energy make a significant portion (approximately 65%) of the state’s renewable energy
generation.210
South Dakota currently does not have a net metering policy in place. Solar PV customers can
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% SD
Solar
Jobs
% SD
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
46.9%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
-
2.8%
11.3%
11.6%
24.9%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
9.5%
8.5%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
5.1%
SD
Solar
Jobs
% SD
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
167
52.2%
57.4%
Manufacturing
22
7.0%
14.5%
30
9.5%
11.7%
59
18.6%
10.8%
41
12.7%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
work with utility providers as well as the Public
Utilities Commission to establish a net metering
agreement on an individual basis.211 South Dakota offers a property tax exemption for solar PV of
up to $50,000 or 70% of the assessed property
value, whichever is greater.212
Like its neighboring state North Dakota, solar energy is a great resource to power water
pumps in remote locations that lack the infrastructure, such as Rural Electrification Administration (REA) lines.213 However, issues such as
special demand rates for solar PV customers are
becoming more visible - as demonstrated by a
recent Black Hills Energy case (which was later
withdrawn) - and may pose a barrier to the solar
industry and affect the return on investment for
solar PV systems.
South Dakota solar employers expect to add 22
solar workers by the end of 2016, a figure that
represents 6.8% growth over its current workforce total.
67
Photo Credit: GRID Alternatives
DIVISION 5
SOUTH ATLANTIC
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia comprise the South Atlantic Division. With abundant resources and regions historically notorious for their cheap coal,
the average utility rate in this division is 10.06
cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) as of September
2015, which is below the national average of
10.51 cents per kWh.214 The region contains a
broad spectrum of solar resource opportunities,
from sunny Florida and Georgia, to more temperate states like Maryland and Delaware.
North Carolina is one of the nation’s front-runners for solar development, ranking fourth
overall for installed solar capacity at 1,263.6
MW through September of 2015. North Carolina’s solar employers have not caught up to the
state’s level of solar capacity yet, ranking only
15th in the nation for jobs per capita, employing
5,950 solar workers. North Carolina’s solar fu-
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
ture is uncertain, however, as much of the solar
growth in the state has been driven by a high solar tax incentive that expired in 2015.215
Florida, the state in the region with the best solar resource potential, also has the highest solar
jobs numbers, employing 6,560 solar workers,
ranking 8th in the nation. Despite its high number of solar jobs, it still has less installed solar
capacity, as of September 2015, than the much
smaller and less sunny state of Maryland. However, Florida’s solar capacity may see strong
growth in 2016, especially in light of a 225 MW
project announced by Florida’s largest utility
(FPL) and a 120 MW solar project announced by
Gulf Power on military facilities in Florida.216, 217
Washington D.C., the birthplace of the nation’s
federal solar policies, has the highest solar jobs
per capita in the region, with 1,000 solar employees, ranking 6th in the nation for solar jobs
68
Solar Jobs
State
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Maryland
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Solar Capacity*221
2015
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
452
38
19
13.80%
67.2
24
6,560
8
28
7.80%
266.3
13
9
15
10.20%
1,263.6
12.90%
3.6
1,000
33
3,185
15
1,764
29
4,269
5,950
1,963
349
12
24
42
6
30
12.20%
26
20.20%
14
37
41
per capita, but only 33rd nationally for total
solar jobs. The nearby state of Delaware, with
a similar population size to Washington, ranks
19th in solar jobs per capita.
West Virginia and South Carolina both have difficult political climates for solar development,
and have seen limited solar growth in recent
years. Both states have installed relatively little solar capacity, however, South Carolina added several pro-solar policies in 2015, that may
likely be the reason the Palmetto state has the
highest projected solar job growth for 2016
(20.20%).218, 219
Virginia is also expected to see significant job
growth in 2016 (17.50%), and, like South Carolina, the state witnessed the addition of several
solar friendly policies in 2015, such as an increased net metering capacity cap and a Green
Jobs Tax Credit.220 To Virginia’s north, Maryland
continues to benefit from a strong and stable solar renewable energy certificate market. Maryland ranks 12th nationally for solar jobs (4,269
jobs), as well as 12th nationally, and second in
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
9.30%
8.50%
17.50%
15.4
211.4
337.5
9.6
18.3
35
15
12
4
37
32
44
*through Q3 2015
the region, for installed capacity through September of 2015 (337.5 MW).
The majority of the jobs within the South Atlantic Division are in the installation sector
(53.7%). There is a relatively even distribution
of manufacturing (13.6%), sales and distribution (11.1%), and project development (14.1%)
positions throughout the region, with the smallest portion of jobs in the “other” sector (7.4%).
As a region, the South Atlantic’s employment
distribution in these sectors is relatively close to
the national average for all sectors. Three states
within the region surpass the national average
for project development positions (10.8%):
Virginia, Florida, and Washington D.C. In the inverse, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, and North
Carolina all have above average proportions
of sales and distribution sector workers. Unsurprisingly, South Carolina and West Virginia,
which fall below the average in the above mentioned categories, have manufacturing sector
positions (28.7% and 19.9% respectively) that
are well above the national average (14.5%).
69
South Atlantic
Division
National
81.4%
67.0%
23.1%
24.2%
$18.00
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
Solar firms in the South Atlantic report significantly more stringent hiring requirements than
their counterparts nationwide. The region has a
higher percentage (81.4%) of firms that require
previous work experience than firms report nationally (67.0%). Similarly, a higher percentage
require a bachelor’s degree or beyond (52.8%)
than their national counterparts (34.9%).
Surprisingly, despite the higher than average
thresholds for entry, the region very closely
matches the national average in reported difficulty in finding qualified employees.
The South Atlantic Division has some of the nation’s leaders in solar development (e.g. North
Carolina) as well as some of the most underdeveloped solar markets in the nation (e.g. West
Virginia). Unsurprisingly, the region also has
a broad range of solar policies. However, solar
policies alone do not always tell the full story.
Georgia’s net metering and interconnection polState Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
52.8%
8.8%
52.3%
24.6%
$32.40
$20.00
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
icies both received an “F”, and the state does not
have a renewable portfolio standard (RPS).222
Despite these policies, Georgia is above the
national average for both jobs and cumulative
capacity, largely due to its thriving utility-scale
solar developments. West Virginia, on the other hand, received an “A” for net-metering policy and a “B” for interconnection policy, but has
one of the most sluggish and undeveloped solar
markets in the nation.223
A common thread seen between some of the
region’s top solar performers is an aggressive
RPS. The top four states in solar jobs per capita (North Carolina, Washington D.C., Maryland,
and Delaware) all have aggressive RPS goals
(12.5%-25%) as well as a solar carve out.224
Florida, Georgia, and West Virginia do not have
RPS goals in place,225 and these states represent
three of the four lowest solar jobs per capita in
the region.
70
Policy
Grades226
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)227
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
DE
A
B
25%
2026
PV: 3.5%
DC
A
B
20%
2020
Various compliance multipliers available for solar
FL
B
D
-
GA
F
F
MD
A
NC
State
SC
-
Solar: 2.50% by 2023
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
B
20%
2022
C
A
12.5%
& 10%
2021
& 2018
12.5% /2021 (IOUs)
& 10% / 2018 (coops &
munis)
B
F
2%
2021
15% 2007 sales.
Voluntary & 200% (double) credit for energy
derived from sunlight
VA
C
A
15%
2025
WV
A
B
-
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Solar is classified as a
“Tier 1” renewable resource
-
Solar: 2% by 2020
Solar: 0.2% by 2018
1% from 1 MW to
10 MW facilities 1%
from facilities under 1
MW with 25% of this
carve-out coming from
systems under 20 kW
-
-
71
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DELAWARE
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
452
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
62
(13.8%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#38
67.2
#19
48
Delaware
Through Q3 of 2015, Delaware added 6.5 MW of
solar capacity, putting Delaware on pace to surpass the total capacity added in 2014 of 7.5MW.
The 6.5 MW added brings Delaware to 67.2 MW
of cumulative solar capacity through Q3 of 2015.
Delaware ranks 19th in the nation for solar jobs
per capita, with 452 solar jobs through 2015.
Delaware’s solar energy market has been driven in large part by the states’ solar-friendly policies and goals. In addition to residential solar
energy rebates and tax incentives, Delaware
has strong net-metering policies, and allows for
power purchase agreements and third-party
solar leasing.228 Delaware’s solar growth is also
largely driven by an aggressive renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which requires 25% of the
state’s energy to come from renewable sources
by 2025, with a 3.5% carve out for solar energy.229 Delaware has a solar renewable energy
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% DE
Solar
Jobs
% DE
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
22.2%
49.2%
23.8%
12.5%
4.0%
8.6%
-
7.5%
11.3%
31.6%
23.2%
18.6%
25.0%
-
5.5%
7.4%
7.0%
8.1%
12.5%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
20.6%
5.1%
DE
Solar
Jobs
% DE
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
303
66.9%
57.4%
Manufacturing
37
8.2%
14.5%
68
14.9%
11.7%
35
7.7%
10.8%
10
2.2%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
credit program that has seen relatively stable
year-to-year prices, and is designed in a way that
promotes distribution of smaller, often residential, solar systems.230 Delaware’s solar workforce
consists of 67% installation jobs, even though
the installed capacity is currently 83% utility
and non-residential.231 This discrepancy may
likely be explained by Delaware’s small size and
close proximity to states with strong residential
solar markets. Delaware also has the highest
percentage of unionized solar workers in the U.S.
Delaware’s solar market is likely to see an increased economic drive from increasing residential electricity prices, that rose over $0.12/
kWh between October 2014 and 2015, and are
now above average for the nation and region at
13.38 cents per kWh.232 While Delaware’s 3.5%
solar carve out by 2025 is one of the highest in
the U.S. for an RPS, solar may play an even larger percentage for Delaware’s in-state renewable
energy production future, considering it already
accounts for 85% of the renewable energy capacity produced in-state.233
73
l
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,000
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
93
(9.3%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#33
15.4
#6
130
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia saw substantial solar
capacity growth in 2015. The District added 6.1
megawatts (MW) through Q3 of 2015, putting it
on pace to nearly double its 2014 cumulative capacity (9.3 MW) in a single year. Washington D.C.
ended 2015 with 1,000 solar workers, which is
the highest solar jobs per capita in the region,
and ranks 6th in the country in terms of solar
jobs per capita.
The strong solar market in the nation’s capital is largely driven by high average electricity
prices (12.01 cents per kWh through September 2015)234, as well as a consistently high Solar Renewable Energy Certificate pricing ($480)
as a result of aggressive solar goals.235 The majority of the solar capacity in D.C. is residential
(59%).236 Aside from economic drivers, the robust residential solar market is bolstered by active government and non-profit solar programs
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% DC
Solar
Jobs
% DC
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
50.3%
23.8%
3.9%
4.3%
8.6%
5.7%
10.3%
11.3%
27.1%
16.1%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
3.3%
4.0%
8.1%
7.2%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
35.1%
5.1%
DC
Solar
Jobs
% DC
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
324
32.4%
57.4%
Manufacturing
89
8.9%
14.5%
36
3.6%
11.7%
220
22.0%
10.8%
330
33.0%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
targeting D.C. residents, such as the DC Sustainable Energy Utility237 and the Community Power
Network.238 The district also benefits from recently-adopted solar-friendly policies, such as a
Solar Energy Property Tax Credit and an active
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy
financing program, among others.239 Non-residential capacity constitutes the remaining 41%
of D.C.’s solar installations.240 The proportion of
non-residential solar is likely to grow in 2016,
especially in light of the District of Columbia’s
plans to construct the nation’s largest municipal
onsite solar project, installing 11.4 MW of solar
on 34 District-owned roofs and parking lots.241
While solar jobs are expected to continue to increase in the District of Columbia next year by
9.3%, the future of the area’s solar marketplace
remains uncertain due to the pending Exelon
merger with Pepco, D.C.’s electric utility. While
the merger currently contains provisions for
Exelon to provide $3.5 million to a Renewable
Energy Development Fund, as well as a commitment to develop 10 MW of solar in D.C., a deal
has yet to be finalized.242
75
l
FLORIDA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
6,560
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
514
(7.8%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#8
266.3
#28
425
Read the full Florida Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Florida
Through Q3 of 2015, Florida added 32.1 MW
of solar capacity, which already surpassed the
year-end total capacity added in 2014, bringing
the cumulative solar capacity in Florida to 191.3
MW. Florida ranks 4th in the region for cumulative installed solar capacity. Florida’s growing
solar market brought increased solar jobs to
the region, totaling 6,560 solar jobs in the state
through 2015. Florida ranks 8th in the nation for
total solar jobs, however, the state ranks 28th
for solar jobs per capita. Florida has the region’s
highest number and percentage of project development solar positions. Residential solar accounts for 22% of Florida’s solar capacity, with
non-residential and utility-scale equally dividing the remaining 78% of the solar market.243
While the state has mostly favorable net metering policies, third-party ownership is not broadly allowed. Smaller electric cooperatives and
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% FL
Solar
Jobs
% FL
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
15.3%
47.3%
23.8%
10.4%
15.1%
5.1%
11.4%
3.0%
8.6%
19.5%
23.3%
11.3%
6.6%
24.4%
18.6%
1.0%
-
5.5%
6.0%
8.4%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
FL
Solar
Jobs
% FL
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
3,217
49.0%
57.4%
735
11.2%
14.5%
449
6.8%
11.7%
1,974
30.1%
10.8%
185
2.8%
5.7%
municipal utilities around the state offer some
financial incentives and new solar ownership
structure such as community solar.244 In October
2015, the Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling that opened up the use of property assessed
clean energy (PACE) financing, allowing greater
access to commercial solar financing.245
Florida is projected to have the slowest solar job
growth rate in 2016, at 7.8%. Despite the below
average predicted job creation, there are several
large-scale projects expected to come online in
2016. The state’s largest utility, FPL, announced
plans to add 225 MW of solar by the end of 2016,
doubling the state’s current solar capacity.246
Around the same time, Gulf Power announced
plans to work with the U.S. Armed Forces to
build 120 MW of solar on military facilities in
Florida.247 There is a ballot initiative in Florida
that would allow third party ownership of solar
and allow customers with systems smaller than
2 MW to sell electricity directly to other consumers, should it pass in November 2016.248
77
l
GEORGIA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
3,185
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
388
(12.2%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#15
211.4
#30
195
Georgia
In 2015, Georgia’s solar market saw even greater growth than the robust performance in 2014.
Georgia added 50.3 MW of solar capacity through
Q3 of 2015, however, Georgia is expected to
more than quadruple the 2015 total capacity
in Q4 alone. Georgia’s strong projected finish to
2015 would nearly triple the state’s cumulative
solar capacity at the end of 2014 (161.1 MW), in
just one year. Despite Georgia’s accelerating solar installations and growing solar market, Georgia still ranks 30th in the nation for solar jobs
per capita, with 3,185 solar jobs.
Georgia’s solar market continues to be dominated by utilities. As of Q3 2015, 85% of the state’s
cumulative solar capacity was utility-owned.249
However, Georgia’s total capacity from such
projects is down from 95% in 2014.250 Georgia’s
higher-than-average share of utility capacity
is largely driven by Georgia Power’s 2012 iniDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% GA
Solar
Jobs
% GA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
26.5%
46.9%
23.8%
14.7%
4.6%
8.6%
15.2%
7.4%
11.3%
29.6%
19.0%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
8.5%
8.1%
24.5%
Veterans of
the U.S.
15.1%
Armed Forces
29.5%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
GA
Solar
Jobs
% GA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,484
46.6%
57.4%
751
23.6%
14.5%
392
12.3%
11.7%
305
9.6%
10.8%
254
8.0%
5.7%
tiative to procure 115 MW, and a 2013 Georgia
Public Service Commission requirement that the
utility bring 210 MW of utility-owned solar online by 2016, with an additional 215 MW online
by 2017.251 A growing shift to non-utility solar
in Georgia is being driven, in part, by Georgia’s
Solar Power Free Market Financing Act, enacted in May of 2015.252 The legislation allows for
third-party ownership of solar energy systems,
such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPA).253
While the PPA opportunity may increase rooftop
solar, non-utility development is still expected to
be limited due to the state’s restrictive net-metering policies.254
Among other notable project in coming years,
Georgia Power agreed with the U.S. Army to
build, own, and operate three solar projects totaling 90 MW of solar on to multiple Army bases
in Georgia by the end of 2016.255 Georgia Power’s
additional 265 MW of solar, ordered by the Public Service Commission, is also scheduled to be
completed by the end of 2016.256
TSF's solar jobs numbers are close to the results found by Southface. The slight difference is due to methodology. More on Southface's approach can be found here
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
79
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MARYLAND
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
4,269
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
361
(8.5%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#12
337.5
#14
182
Maryland
In 2015, Maryland saw continued growth in its
solar capacity. The 115.2 MW of solar capacity
added in Maryland through Q3 of 2015 already
surpassed the state’s year-end total of 80 MW in
2014.257 The growth in Maryland’s solar capacity
in 2015 was also reflected in local solar industry
hiring, bringing the total solar jobs in Maryland
from 3,010 in 2014 to 4,269 in 2015, ranking
12th among all states for solar jobs.
Residential solar demand continues to constitute the majority of Maryland’s solar market,
accounting for 58% of last year’s solar installations through Q3 (66.9 MW).258 The passage of
a Maryland Community Solar bill in April 2015
will allow individual residents greater access to
large scale commercial solar projects, and may
start to shift the landscape of Maryland’s solar
marketplace.259 Maryland’s solar energy industry also benefited from a continued stable soDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% MD
Solar
Jobs
% MD
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
27.6%
48.5%
23.8%
4.1%
8.0%
8.6%
5.9%
9.5%
11.3%
18.1%
23.9%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
7.0%
7.0%
8.1%
14.5%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
28.0%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
MD
Solar
Jobs
% MD
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
3,025
70.9%
57.4%
300
7.0%
14.5%
675
15.8%
11.7%
128
3.0%
10.8%
141
3.3%
5.7%
lar renewable energy certificate (SREC) market
throughout 2015.260 Some of Maryland’s largest
solar providers have responded to the strong
growth of residential solar in Maryland in 2015
with significant increases in local hiring.
Several Maryland solar companies, such as Direct
Energy Solar, have already announced plans for
expansion that will add hundreds of new solar
jobs in 2016.261, 262, 263 Solar installations at K-12
schools in Maryland may present an important,
and largely untapped, market in years to come.
A study by The Solar Foundation found that as
of August 2015, Maryland schools represent 8.35
MW of state solar capacity, but up to 143.5 MW,
on 1,867 more schools, could be cost-effectively
added in the near future.264 Despite news of projected solar growth and new developments in
Maryland, job numbers are not expected to repeat the dramatic increase seen between 2014
and 2015, but rather are only projected to rise
8.5% in 2016.265
81
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NORTH CAROLINA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
5,950
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
604
(10.2%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#9
1,263.6
#15
188
Read the full North Carolina Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
North Carolina
North Carolina is second in the nation for solar
capacity. Through Q3 of 2015, North Carolina
installed 310.4 MW of solar capacity, bringing
the cumulative installed capacity in the state to
1,263.6 MW.266 North Carolina is predicted to
have a highly productive Q4 (adding more than
700 MW), and will likely double the state’s cumulative capacity from 2014 (953.2 MW), by the
end of 2015. North Carolina ranks 15th nationally in solar jobs per capita, with 5,950 jobs.
North Carolina’s “solar rush” had been driven
by a combination of the nation’s largest state
solar tax credit (35%) and a standard-offer rate
for power purchase agreements between utilities and solar generators for non-residential solar projects less than 5 MW. The push for utility-scale solar installations completed before the
end of 2015 were driven by the expected end-ofyear expiration of the state’s significant tax credDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% NC
Solar
Jobs
% NC
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.2%
47.5%
23.8%
4.8%
3.1%
8.6%
3.8%
9.8%
11.3%
23.1%
22.2%
18.6%
1.0%
-
5.5%
7.8%
8.0%
8.1%
5.3%
20.3%
5.1%
NC
Solar
Jobs
% NC
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
2,384
40.1%
57.4%
Manufacturing
1,144
19.2%
14.5%
995
16.7%
11.7%
572
9.6%
10.8%
855
14.4%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
it.267, 268 Unsurprisingly, the economic drivers
pushing rapid development of large-scale solar
projects over the last few years, have raised the
state’s solar capacity to over 90% utility-scale.
269
Non-utility-scale solar projects face a more
difficult policy environment, with few available
incentives outside of Tennessee Valley Authority service territory, and a less than favorable net
metering arrangement relative to other states in
the region.270
With the expiration of North Carolina’s solar tax
credit, the state’s solar landscape is likely to shift
away from utility-scale to some degree in the
years to come. However, the state’s high number
of leading solar technology research centers, and
ongoing standard offer to large-scale solar generators should continue to drive solar jobs and
developments in North Carolina. In addition,
many in-state groups continue to push for new
legislation permitting third party ownership of
solar, a policy which would facilitate broad residential adoption of solar.
TSF's solar jobs numbers are close to the results found by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. The slight difference is due to methodology. More on NCSEA's approach here.
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
83
l
SOUTH CAROLINA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,764
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
357
(20.2%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#29
9.6
#26
51
South Carolina
Through Q3 of 2015, South Carolina added 1.6
MW of solar capacity, bringing the state’s total
solar capacity to 9.6 MW. The Palmetto State is
expected to finish 2015 strong, by more than
doubling the state’s solar capacity in Q4 alone.271
Approximately 51 companies along the solar
value chain provided employment to 1,764 solar
workers.272 The state has the highest percentage
of solar manufacturing jobs in the region.
While the state has a robust solar resource, South
Carolina lawmakers have only recently worked
to enact policies typically associated with solar
industry growth. Critically, South Carolina did
not have a clear net-metering policy until the
Public Service Commission approved of a settlement agreement between solar stakeholders
in March of 2015.273 In addition, it was not until
2014 that South Carolina permitted third-party
ownership of solar installations. South Carolina
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% SC
Solar
Jobs
% SC
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
17.6%
48.0%
23.8%
-
2.0%
8.6%
10.0%
4.5%
11.3%
14.6%
21.2%
18.6%
10.0%
-
5.5%
8.9%
8.1%
10.0%
Veterans of
the U.S.
15.7%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
25.0%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
SC
Solar
Jobs
% SC
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,093
62.0%
57.4%
506
28.7%
14.5%
86
4.8%
11.7%
49
2.8%
10.8%
31
1.7%
5.7%
does have a 25% solar tax credit, up to $3,500
per year, that likely will have an amplified affect
now that the aforementioned solar-friendly policies are in place.274 In October of 2015, the Public
Service Commission approved a Duke Energy rebate program, off-setting solar installation costs
at $1.00 per watt of solar capacity. Included in
the settlement was a provision to allow for a
“shared” or “community” solar program.275 The
state’s renewable portfolio standard, however, remains quite low compared to some of its
neighbors, requiring 2% of electricity used in
the state be derived from renewable energy by
2021.276
In light of the solar policies enacted in 2015,
Duke Energy expects, and has announced plans
for, 50 times the current solar capacity to be installed in the state in the next several years.277
Accordingly, this drastic increase in South Carolina’s solar capacity has led the state to earn the
highest projected percentage increase in solar
jobs in the region (20.2%).
85
l
VIRGINIA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,963
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
342
(17.5%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#24
18.3
#37
180
Virginia
Virginia saw a 25% increase in solar installations in 2015. Through Q3 of 2015, 7.1 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity were added, which
already surpassed the year-end total of 5.7 MW
in 2014.278 Virginia is predicted to have a strong
Q4 for solar installations, which will only add to
the accelerated solar growth between 2014 and
2015. Virginia’s solar job market, however, is still
behind most of the country, ranking 37th in jobs
per capita at a total of 1,963 solar jobs in 2015.
Virginia’s solar workforce lags behind many of
its neighbors in the region.279 Virginia’s solar
market development may be limited, in part, by
low average electricity prices (9.35 cents/kW)280
as well as a lack of solar-friendly policies. Virginia does not broadly allow for third-party solar
PPAs, and also has low limits on the size and aggregate capacity of net-metered solar projects.281
Through Q3, Virginia’s cumulative solar capacity
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% VA
Solar
Jobs
% VA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
23.9%
47.3%
23.8%
6.5%
7.1%
8.6%
17.7%
7.8%
11.3%
28.8%
23.1%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
8.9%
12.1%
8.1%
9.7%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
18.0%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
VA
Solar
Jobs
% VA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,193
60.8%
57.4%
161
8.2%
14.5%
142
7.3%
11.7%
277
14.1%
10.8%
189
9.7%
5.7%
was evenly spread between non-residential (8.5
MW) and residential (7.7 MW), with utilities only
supporting a small share of the solar capacity
(2.1 MW).282
In April, the Governor signed a legislation package that included a doubling of the net energy
metering capacity cap, amendments to Virginia’s
property assessed clean energy program that
will allow for easier commercial access to solar financing, the creation of the Virginia Solar
Development Authority, and the extension of a
Green Jobs Tax Credit.283 That same month, the
Attorney General issued an opinion letter clarifying the limited role homeowner associations
may play in restricting residential solar installations.284 In June, Amazon announced plans to
build an 80 MW solar farm in Virginia that is projected to create 300-400 local solar jobs.285 Most
recently, in December 2015, Governor McAuliffe announced that Virginia will work with the
state’s largest utility to procure 110 MW of solar
in the next 3 years, bolstering future local solar
job potential.286
87
l
WEST VIRGINIA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
349
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
45
(12.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#42
3.6
#41
26
West Virginia
West Virginia’s solar market development
lags behind the rest of the region. Through Q3
of 2015, West Virginia added a region-low of
0.5 MW of solar capacity. The 2015 additions
brought the state’s cumulative solar capacity to
3.6 MW, ranking it 44th in the nation for cumulative capacity, and last in the region. Not surprisingly, West Virginia’s solar job market is last in
the region as well. West Virginia employs 349
workers in the solar industry, ranking it 41st in
the nation for solar jobs per capita.
West Virginia’s solar demand is likely slowed, in
part, by the region’s lowest average electricity
pricing through 2015 ($0.08/kWh).287 In 2014,
roughly 83% of all solar capacity added in West
Virginia was residential.288 The job market reflects the state’s residential demand, with almost
two-thirds of solar jobs in West Virginia consisting of installation positions in 2015 (64.7%).
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% WV
Solar
Jobs
% WV
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
47.8%
23.8%
-
3.1%
5.1%
-
-
8.6%
5.3%
1.6%
11.3%
-
24.9%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
4.5%
8.7%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
WV
Solar
Jobs
% WV
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
226
64.7%
57.4%
Manufacturing
69
19.9%
14.5%
17
4.9%
11.7%
22
6.3%
10.8%
15
4.2%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
The Mountain State did show promising growth
in the number of local solar companies, from 15
solar companies in 2014, to 26 in 2015. West Virginia does not have many solar-related policies,
compared to some of its neighbors, however its
net metering policies, which allow solar users to
sell their excess electricity back to the grid, are
among the most favorable in the region.289
In March of 2015, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin
signed HB 2201, which amended the net-metering law to prohibit cross-subsidization and
directs the Public Service Commission (PSC) to
study the “fair value” of net metering credits. 290
The effects of this change are still uncertain, and
will depend in part, on the PSC’s interpretation
of the value of solar.291 There have also been concerted efforts across West Virginia to utilize bulk
purchasing cooperatives to bring solar energy
to West Virginia residents, that otherwise could
not have carried out a solar development project
on their own.292
89
Photo courtesy of DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, TN
DIVISION 6
EAST SOUTH CENTRAL
The East South Central Division is comprised of
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
With abundant natural resources, the average
utility rate in this region is 9.13 cents per kWh,
which is below the national average of 10.51
cents per kWh.293 Solar irradiance is robust in
Division 6, giving East South Central states a
solid foundation for growing viable solar markets. 294 Solar augments this Division’s impressive traditional energy assets. Alabama is the
2nd largest producer of hydropower east of the
Rocky Mountains;295 Kentucky is a top 5 coal
producing state;296 Mississippi hosts the single
largest nuclear reactor in the U.S., the 1.25 gigawatt Grand Gulf nuclear plant;297 and Tennessee
will soon commission Watts Bar Nuclear Plant
Unit 2, which will have 1.15 GW capacity.298
States in the East South Central Division have
traditionally pursued minimal solar policies.
Net metering is very limited, and all states in
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
this Division lack third-party solar financing
provisions and renewable portfolio standards,
which have each proven to be catalytic state
policy mechanisms for solar growth in leading
states.299 Nevertheless, the Division is unique
in that all the states that comprise it, at least
partially, lie within the service territory of the
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a corporate
agency of the United States federal government.300 Until recently, the creation on an enabling environment for solar in the Division has
almost entirely fallen to TVA programs. However, TVA is currently reducing solar programs at
all levels.301 Other electric utilities, are cautiously taking up the mantle, but continue to restrict
small-scale solar, preferring instead to build
one-off utility-scale facilities that will quickly
ramp installed capacity figures over the next
few quarters.
Alabama is the smallest solar market in the East
90
Solar Jobs
State
Alabama
Kentucky
Mississippi
Tennessee
Solar Capacity*
2015
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
287
45
50
22.4%
0.7
49
16
17.0%
128.2
18
1,002
560
3,798
32
37
13
39
48
South Central Division as of Q3 2015, with only
0.7 MW of installed capacity, and 3rd lowest
level of solar deployment in the country, just
ahead of North Dakota and South Dakota.302 Alabama added virtually all of its cumulative capacity since January 2015.303 Alabama’s Public
Service Commission imposed a $5 per kW per
month tariff on solar ratepayers in Alabama
Power Company’s (APCo) service territory in
2014.304 Nevertheless, Alabama Power now has
the greenlight to source 500 MW of renewables
to meet customers’ demand for clean energy.305
Over 100 MW of utility-scale solar projects are
already underway, including an 80 MW solar
farm in TVA territory and 2 smaller projects in
the APCo service area.306, 307 Alabama ranks 2nd
to last in solar jobs per capita, with only 287 solar workers, and 45th for solar jobs overall. Nevertheless, Alabama’s solar industry is projected
to add 64 solar workers in 2016, equivalent to
22.4% growth.
Kentucky has 3.8 MW of cumulative capacity308
and just over 1,000 solar workers. Kentucky’s
relatively robust net metering compensation
helped to set it apart from Alabama and Mississippi on a cumulative basis, but the industry only
added 0.6 MW from January to September 2015
statewide.309 Kentucky ranks 43rd for installed
capacity310 and 32nd in the country for solar
jobs. Despite relatively robust net metering, the
utility sector will lead Kentucky’s solar industry
in 2016, with groundbreaking to commence for
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
15.9%
3.1%
3.8
0.8
43
48
*through Q3 2015
the state’s largest installation, a 10 MW facility
in Mercer County, in late 2015.311 Kentucky’s solar industry is projected to add 159 solar workers in 2016, equivalent to 15.9% growth.
Mississippi had the 4th smallest solar market
in the country as of Q3 2015, with only 0.8 MW
of installed capacity, only slightly ahead of Alabama.312 However, the state has 560 solar workers, or nearly double the number in Alabama,
placing it 48th nationally for solar jobs per capita, and 37th for solar jobs overall. With otherwise minimal solar policies, Mississippi enacted
a net metering rule for the first time in December 2015,313 which may spur modest customer-led solar deployment in 2016 and beyond.
Mississippi added no appreciable solar capacity in 2015 through the quarter.314 Nevertheless,
Mississippi has over 100 MW of utility-scale
projects underway.315 Due to the outsized role
of out-of-state project developers for large projects in nascent solar markets, however, industry
experts forecast a meagre solar jobs growth of
3.1% in 2016. Nevertheless, Mississippi’s solar
industry may outperform this projection as it
only represents the addition of 17 solar workers. This is especially likely with the opening of
a large solar module factory in Jackson, which
may employ up to 250 workers as it ramps up
to 1 GW of production capacity over 3 years.316
Tennessee has more solar workers than the rest
of the East South Central Division combined
(3,798). The state also outpaces the rest of this
91
East South Central
Division
National
-
67.0%
19.4%
24.2%
-
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
Division by more than a factor of twenty in cumulative capacity with 128 MW, placing it 18th
nationally.317 This modest achievement, however, cannot be credited to state solar policymaking, which is virtually non-existent. Instead,
solar capacity and jobs figures are largely attributable to the outsized role of the TVA in Tennessee and in the Division in general. Experts
project that Tennessee will add 646 solar jobs
in 2016, representing 17% growth.
East South Central Division solar firms report
having difficulty hiring workers. Nationally and
in the Division, 77% of firms report some level
of difficulty, though fewer firms in the Division
report hiring to be “very difficult” (19%) than
on a national basis (24%). Data were not available for hiring requirements or median wages,
though national firms report a greater emphasis on previous work experience (67%) than on
higher education (45%), and wages above comparable positions in other industries.
East South Central states have weak policy inState Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
-
-
58.1%
22.6%
-
-
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
centives for solar power. No state in the Division
has a renewable portfolio standard or provisions for third party finance mechanisms like
solar power purchase agreements or leases.318
Neither Alabama nor Tennessee have net metering rules, and are therefore given an “F” grade.319
Despite enacting “modified avoided cost” net
metering rules in December 2015, Mississippi’s
rule is rated at an “F” as it does not qualify as net
metering under the Interstate Renewable Energy Council definition.320 Kentucky’s net metering rule is rated at a “B” due to restrictive system
and aggregate capacity limits. 321 All Division
states except Mississippi are given an “F” for interconnection.322 Regardless, utility-scale solar
deployment has at least temporarily surged in
the Division. Nevertheless, due to dwindling solar program allotments across the TVA service
territory, and in the absence of more policies
associated with solar market development, the
East South Central Division is all but ensured
sporadic and uneven solar deployment and jobs
creation.
92
Policy Grades
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
AL
F
F
-
-
-
-
KY
B
F
-
-
-
-
MS
F
C
-
-
-
-
TN
F
F
-
-
-
-
State
Photo Credit: Mountain View Solar (MTV) VW
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
93
l
ALABAMA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
287
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
64
(22.4%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#45
0.7
#50
34
Alabama
As of Q3 2015, Alabama had about 700 kW of
cumulative installed solar capacity.323 The state
added no appreciable capacity in the 2015 calendar year.324 About 34 companies along the solar value chain325 provided employment to 287
solar workers.
Despite Alabama’s robust solar resource,326 state
lawmakers did not enact policies typically associated with solar industry growth in 2015. Alabama does not have a clear policy on third-party
finance, a renewable portfolio standard, or net
metering rules.327 Solar is mainly governed by a
combination of the three-member Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates
Alabama Power Company (APCo), and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), an independent federal corporate agency.328 It is likely that the PSC’s
2014 decision to impose a $5 per kW per month
tariff on solar ratepayers in APCo’s service terriDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% AL
Solar
Jobs
% AL
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
15.4%
47.5%
23.8%
9.1%
23.5%
5.1%
-
-
8.6%
-
4.0%
11.3%
33.3%
20.7%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
7.7%
8.0%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
AL
Solar
Jobs
% AL
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
127
44.2%
57.4%
Manufacturing
21
7.4%
14.5%
20
7.1%
11.7%
89
31.0%
10.8%
29
10.3%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
tory caused 2015 deployment to falter.329 Meanwhile, TVA curtailed net metering benefits from
premium to retail rates, and reduced participation from 130 MW in 2015 to a 10 MW cap to
share among sectors in its seven-state territory
for 2016.330, 331, 332 TVA also cancelled the Renewable Standard Offer program to buy power from
systems up to 20 MW in 2016.333
Despite shrinking incentives in Alabama, APCo
and TVA have pursued large projects that are
slated to drastically grow Alabama’s solar capacity in 2016. In 2015, APCo obtained permission from the PSC to build or buy up to 500 MW
of renewable energy capacity over the next six
years.332 Planned projects in 2016 include two10.6 MW facilities at military installations in
APCo territory335 and an 80 MW solar farm in
TVA territory.336 Due to Alabama’s focus on larger installations, solar employment growth may
not keep pace with capacity additions due to the
nature of larger projects and the role of out-ofstate developers in nascent markets.337 Still, solar jobs are projected to grow by 22.4% in 2016.
95
l
KENTUCKY
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,002
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
159
(15.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#32
3.8
#39
44
Kentucky
As of the third quarter of 2015, Kentucky had
at least 3.8 megawatts (MW) of cumulative installed solar capacity.338, 339 The state added at
least 0.6 MW of solar capacity in the 2015 calendar year.340 Approximately 44 companies along
the solar value chain341 provided employment to
1,002 solar workers.
Kentucky disallows third-party finance and lacks
a renewable portfolio standard.342 For a majority
of ratepayers, solar is governed by a combination
of the three-member Kentucky Public Service
Commission (PSC), which regulates the state’s
investor-owned and rural electric cooperative
utilities, and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),
an independent federal corporate agency.343
PSC-regulated Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company
(KU), Kentucky’s largest utility conglomerate,
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% KY
Solar
Jobs
% KY
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
11.2%
48.1%
23.8%
-
1.8%
8.6%
-
3.2%
11.3%
12.7%
21.7%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
6.9%
8.1%
-
Veterans of
the U.S.
19.6%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
8.2%
5.1%
KY
Solar
Jobs
% KY
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
727
72.5%
57.4%
Manufacturing
259
25.9%
14.5%
-
-
11.7%
3
0.3%
10.8%
13
1.3%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
withdrew a proposal for a 67% fixed charge
increase for residential electric ratepayers,344
which, alongside rate reductions, would have cut
the financial viability of efficiency measures and
renewable energy projects for those investing in
these measures. Despite a robust statewide net
metering policy,345 TVA curtailed net metering
benefits from premium to retail electric rates,
and reduced participation from 130 MW in 2015
to a 10 MW cap to share between commercial
and residential sectors in its seven-state territory for 2016.346, 347, 348 TVA also cancelled the Renewable Standard Offer program to buy power
from systems up to 20 MW in 2016.349
Medium and large-scale projects are likely to
continue dominating Kentucky’s solar landscape
in 2016, which may hinder solar jobs potential relative to small-scale solar deployment.350
Notable projects include a 1.9 MW installation
completed at Fort Campbell in Fall 2015,357 and
groundbreaking for the state’s largest installation, a 10 MW facility, in Mercer County in late
2015.352 Solar jobs are projected to grow by
15.9% in 2016.
97
l
MISSISSIPPI
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
560
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
18
(3.1%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#37
0.8
#48
13
Mississippi
As of the third quarter of 2015, Mississippi had
about 0.8 megawatts (MW) of cumulative installed solar capacity.353 The only appreciable
solar capacity added in the 2015 calendar year
was a 0.5 MW Entergy-owned facility installed
by Mississippi-based manufacturer Stion Solar
in DeSoto County.354 About 13 companies along
the solar value chain355 provided employment to
560 solar workers.
Mississippi has a robust solar resource.356 Although Mississippi disallows third-party solar
financing and lacks a renewables standard, the
Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC)
implemented a net metering rule in December
2015.357, 358 A PSC study commissioned in 2011
valued net metered electricity above the retail
rate, but Mississippi regulators set the benefit at
the supply rate, plus a $0.025 per kilowatt-hour
premium with an additional benefit for earDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% MS
Solar
Jobs
% MS
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
47.7%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
6.7%
3.0%
11.3%
-
21.0%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
2.6%
8.2%
8.1%
18.7%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
31.7%
5.1%
MS
Solar
Jobs
% MS
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
268
47.8%
57.4%
Manufacturing
107
19.1%
14.5%
152
27.1%
11.7%
19
3.4%
10.8%
14
2.6%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
ly adopting low-income households.359, 360 The
South Mississippi Electric Power Association has
appealed the premium payment.361 Meanwhile,
TVA cut net metering benefits from premium to
retail electric rates, and reduced participation
from 130 MW in 2015 to a 10 MW cap to share
between commercial and residential sectors in
its seven-state territory for 2016. 362, 363, 364 TVA
also cancelled its program to buy power from
systems up to 20 MW in 2016.365
With the effect of the new net metering rule unclear, large projects are likely to dominate the
state's solar market in 2016, which may hinder
sales and installation jobs potential relative to
small-scale projects.366 Mississippi Power, the
U.S. Navy, and private sector partners received
PSC approval in late 2015 to develop utility-scale
facilities totaling 105 MW of capacity.367 Chinese
module manufacturer Seraphim Solar began operations in Jackson in 2015, and will grow to a
gigawatt of capacity over three years, to employ
up to 250 workers.368, 369 Mississippi may outperform 2016 projections for solar jobs growth,
placed at 3.1%.
99
l
TENNESSEE
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
3,798
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
645
(17.0%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#13
128.2
#16
151
Tennessee
As of the third quarter of 2015, Tennessee had
about 128.2 megawatts (MW) of cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity.370 The
state added roughly 10.2 MW of solar capacity
through Q3 2015.371 151 companies along the
solar value chain372 provided employment to
3,798 solar workers.
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) solar
programs continued contracting in 2015 with
deeper contractions slated for 2016. Despite
its robust solar resource,373 Tennessee does not
have a clear policy on third-party finance, a renewable portfolio standard, or net metering
rules.374 Even if such policies were in place, TVA
(which serves the vast majority of the state’s
ratepayers) is an independent non-profit corporate agency of the federal government and sets
its policies based on federal law.375
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% TN
Solar
Jobs
% TN
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
20.3%
46.5%
23.8%
2.2%
1.2%
8.6%
2.2%
5.9%
11.3%
19.8%
21.8%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
4.6%
9.5%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
16.1%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
TN
Solar
Jobs
% TN
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
3,047
80.2%
57.4%
319
8.4%
14.5%
87
2.3%
11.7%
179
4.7%
10.8%
166
4.4%
5.7%
Compensation within the TVA Green Power Providers program for systems 50 kW and smaller
shrank from a premium rate to equal retail electric rates in 2016.376, 377 More importantly, TVA
sharply curtailed participation from 130 MW
total in 2015, to a 10 MW cap to share between
commercial and residential sectors across its
7-state territory for 2016.378, 379 Compounding
downward pressure, TVA discontinued its Renewable Standard Offer after 2015, which had
been successful in spurring 50kW to 20 MW solar garden and farm developments in previous
years. It is unclear whether TVA will invest in additional utility-scale projects, which account for
nearly half of Tennessee’s cumulative installed
capacity through 2015.380
In 2015, German polysilicon manufacturer invested $2.4 billion in a large production facility
in Charleston, which will employ up to 650 solar
workers and produce as much as 20,000 tons of
polysilicon annually.381 That is enough to manufacture about four gigawatts of solar modules,
which could power 830,000 American homes.
Solar jobs are expected to grow 17% in 2016.
101
Photo Credit: Pieter Edelman, "Sunflowers", Austin, TX
DIVISION 7
WEST SOUTH CENTRAL
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas comprise the West South Central region. With abundant natural resources, the average utility rate
in this region is 8.48 cents per kilowatt hour
(kWh), which is below the national average of
10.51 cents per kWh and the lowest rate of any
census division.382 Solar irradiation is high in
the western parts of Texas and Oklahoma, and
fair throughout the rest of the region, making it
a prime location for solar deployment.383 Texas
and Oklahoma, though, have renewable energy
generation portfolios dominated by wind energy. The two states rank 1st and 4th, respectively,
in the nation for installed wind power capacity.384
Texas has the most solar workers and cumulative
installed capacity through Q3 2015 of any state
in the West South Central region. New solar installations in 2015 doubled total 2014 installed
capacity, driven by the increasing cost-competitiveness of solar energy on the Texas electricity
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
market.385, 386 Growth in the Texas solar market
is expected to continue in 2016, with solar jobs
growing at the fastest rate of any state in the region.
Oklahoma will also see solar jobs growth in
2016, along with continued installed solar capacity growth. Although ranking #40 in cumulative installed capacity through Q3 2015, Oklahoma saw gains in 2015 partially due to utility
installations.387 New legislation in Oklahoma
that allows higher fixed charges or demand
charges on net metering customers, however,
may adversely affect residential installations.388
Louisiana has the second most solar workers
and installed solar capacity of states in the West
South Central region. Yet, growth in Louisiana’s
solar market will be stunted by a net metering
cap and limits on solar tax credits.389, 390 As a result, the solar workforce in Louisiana is expected to contract in 2016.
102
Solar Jobs
State
Arkansas
Louisiana
Oklahoma
Texas
Solar Capacity*
2015
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
264
47
49
1.70%
4.6
42
6
34
403.4
10
1,974
395
7,030
23
39
20
46
Arkansas has the fewest solar workers and the
least installed solar capacity of any state in the
West South Central region. Passage of new net
metering rules may help to boost residential
and commercial installations, and utility-scale
solar facilities are set to open in 2016.391, 392 Yet,
projections for solar jobs growth in 2016 are
still low.
Most solar jobs within the West South Central
region are in the installation sector. Overall, solar jobs in this region are more evenly distributed throughout all sectors compared to firms
nationally. The percentage of solar workers
in the manufacturing sector in Texas (20.3%),
Arkansas (17.3%), and Louisiana (15.7%) all
surpass the national average (14.5%). Similarly, Arkansas (25.6%), Louisiana (21.1%), and
Oklahoma (19.6%) all have a larger percentage
of solar workers in the project development sector than the national average (10.8%). However,
each state in the region has a smaller share of
workers in the sales & distribution sector than
the national average (11.7%).
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-2.60%
7.90%
12.70%
76.2
5.4
23
40
*through Q3 2015
Solar firms in the West South Central region
report hiring requirements that place less emphasis on previous work experience than firms
report nationally. Yet, West South Central firms
require Bachelor’s degrees or beyond at a higher rate than firms nationally. Solar firms in the
West South Central region report that it is both
“Very Difficult” and “Not at all Difficult” to find
workers at a higher percentage than firms report nationally, but a smaller percentage of West
South Central firms report that it is “Somewhat
Difficult.”
Many of the states within the West South Central region have weak policy incentives for solar
power, especially as it relates to interconnection. All of the states received an “F” for their interconnection policies, except for Texas, which
received a “D.” The region fared better for its
net metering policies. Arkansas received an “A”
and Louisiana received a “B.” These states credit
customers at the retail rate for net excess generation. Both Oklahoma and Texas received an
“F” for their net metering policies. Oklahoma received a failing grade because it does not require
103
West South Central
Division
National
58.8%
67.0%
27.9%
24.2%
-
$21.00
-
$15.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
utilities to compensate customers for their net
excess generation. Net metering, as traditionally
defined, is unavailable to most electric customers throughout Texas.393, 394, 395, 396
Renewable portfolio standards (RPS), as they
currently stand, will not affect the deployment
of new solar installations in any of the states
within the West South Central region. Texas is
the only state in the region that requires a cer-
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
37.0%
8.6%
41.0%
31.1%
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
tain amount of renewable energy in its generation portfolio. Yet, Texas reached its 5,880 MW
requirement, as well as its 2025 goal of 10,000
MW, and has not implemented a new RPS mandate or goal. Oklahoma established a 15% by
2015 RPS goal, and also reached this capacity
without any extension in place. Neither Arkansas nor Louisiana has adopted a RPS.397
104
Policy Grades
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
AR
A
F
-
-
-
-
LA
B
F
-
-
-
-
OK
F
F
15%
2015
Voluntary
-
TX
F
D
State
5,880
MW
2015
10,000 MW goal by 2025 500 MW goal of non(achieved)
wind resources
Photo Credit: Borrego Solar
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
105
l
ARKANSAS
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
264
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
4
(1.7%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#47
4.6
#49
21
Arkansas
Solar market growth stalled in Arkansas during
2015. Installations equaled approximately 0.2
megawatts (MW) by Q3 2015, falling short of the
2 MW installed in 2014.398, 399 This brings Arkansas’ cumulative installed capacity as of Q3 2015
to 4.6 MW.400 Solar jobs demonstrated a yearover-year decline, with 264 solar workers employed in the Arkansas solar industry in 2015.
Arkansas has no net power generation from
small-scale residential installations.401 However,
the passage of House Bill 1004, which alters the
state’s net metering rules and rates, may help
promote additional residential installations.402
The bill requires utilities to carry over net excess
generation indefinitely and allows a net metering customer to redeem net excess generation at
the estimated annual average avoided cost rate
for wholesale energy.403 It also eased limits on
eligible system size for residential customers, alDemographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% AR
Solar
Jobs
% AR
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
14.0%
47.4%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
-
8.5%
11.3%
22.6%
20.1%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
6.4%
8.1%
-
Veterans of
the U.S.
10.2%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
13.5%
5.1%
AR
Solar
Jobs
% AR
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
88
33.2%
57.4%
Manufacturing
46
17.3%
14.5%
10
3.9%
11.7%
68
25.6%
10.8%
53
20.0%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
lowing for the larger of either 25 kilowatts (kW)
or 100% of the highest monthly usage in the previous 12 months.404 The bill also enables the Public Service Commission to allow net metering for
non-residential customers with systems larger
than 300 kW, which was the previous system capacity limit.405 This may help drive solar growth
in the commercial sector moving forward. Additionally, Arkansas broke ground on its first community solar garden in 2015, and more projects
are expected in coming years.406
Falling solar costs are the main driver of utility-scale projects in Arkansas, as the state lacks
a renewable portfolio standard. Two new solar
generation facilities, totaling 13 MW, are planning to open in the coming year.407, 408 Entergy Arkansas also announced plans for an 81 MW solar PV facility to open by mid-2019, which could
lead to 200 to 300 new construction jobs.409 Despite these plans for new facilities, solar jobs are
expected to only make modest gains in 2016 at a
projected growth rate of 1.7%.
107
l
LOUISIANA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,974
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
-51
(-2.6%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#23
76.2
#20
62
Louisiana
There were approximately 23.9 megawatts (MW)
of solar capacity installed in Louisiana in 2015
through Q3.410 Annual installations are projected to surpass 2014 numbers, which equaled 30.7
MW.411 These additions bring the cumulative installed capacity in Louisiana to 76.2 MW through
Q3 2015.412 Solar jobs kept pace with installation
trends, and the solar industry employed 1,974
solar workers in 2015. The number of solar companies in Louisiana also grew in 2015, expanding by 20% to 62 firms.
Residential solar installations may slow in Louisiana over the coming years due to state policy.
The status of third-party ownership is still unclear in the state.413 Additionally, the state’s largest utility, Entergy Louisiana, reached its net metering cap of 0.5% of peak electricity demand.414
It will continue to provide bi-directional metering to customers but, as of January 1, 2016, new
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% LA
Solar
Jobs
% LA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
33.8%
46.4%
23.8%
11.1%
2.0%
8.6%
22.2%
5.6%
11.3%
32.3%
21.2%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
8.2%
8.1%
11.1%
Veterans of
the U.S.
16.9%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
27.5%
5.1%
LA
Solar
Jobs
% LA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
934
47.3%
57.4%
Manufacturing
184
9.3%
14.5%
151
7.6%
11.7%
417
21.1%
10.8%
289
14.6%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
solar customers will begin receiving the avoided
cost rate instead of the retail rate for excess energy returned to the grid.415 LPSC voted to hold
the net metering cap at 0.5%, partially based
on findings from its 2015 report that concluded that solar energy costs non-solar ratepayers
about $2 million each year. However, a statewide
discussion on net metering will begin again in
early 2016.416, 417 The New Orleans area (Orleans
Parish) retains retail net metering due to separate regulatory authority of the New Orleans
City Council.418
State lawmakers curbed tax credits for solar PV
systems by setting a cap of the lesser of $2 per
watt (DC), 50% of the cost of purchase and installation, or $10,000 per system for state-level
benefits.419 There will also be a retroactive annual tax credit cap of $10 million in tax years 2015
and 2016, and $5 million for tax year 2017, prior
to the credit phasing out at the end of 2017.420
Although installations in 2016 are projected to
surpass 2015 figures, these policy changes may
adversely affect this outlook.421 Solar jobs are
projected to decline in 2016.
109
OKLAHOMA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
395
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
31
(7.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#39
5.4
#46
24
Oklahoma
Approximately 3.1 megawatts (MW) of solar
capacity were installed in Oklahoma in 2015
through Q3.422 These installations surpassed
Oklahoma’s 2014 cumulative capacity of 2.3MW
and brings total solar capacity through Q3 2015
to 5.4 MW.423, 424 Despite this growth, employment decreased year over year, with 395 solar
workers employed in the Oklahoma solar industry in 2015.
The rapid increase in installed capacity is due
in part to utility installations. Oklahoma Gas &
Electric installed a solar farm that is capable of
generating approximately 2.5 MW of power.425
This trend in utility-scale installations will continue in coming years; Oklahoma-based Western
Farmers Electric Cooperative contracted for a series of 19 photovoltaic (PV) power plants capable of generating a total of 26.6 MW.426 The residential solar sector, however, may not keep pace.
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% OK
Solar
Jobs
% OK
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
45.7%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
-
9.5%
11.3%
17.6%
22.4%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
1.7%
8.9%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
6.5%
5.1%
OK
Solar
Jobs
% OK
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
149
37.6%
57.4%
Manufacturing
62
15.7%
14.5%
46
11.6%
11.7%
78
19.6%
10.8%
61
15.3%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
New legislation enables utilities to apply to the
Oklahoma Corporation Commission to implement higher fixed charges or demand charges on
net metering customers.427 This could adversely
affect the economics of installing solar energy
systems, which are already impeded by state net
metering rules that do not mandate utilities to
compensate solar-power-generating customers
for any net excess generation.428
Oklahoma reached its renewable portfolio goal
target of 15% by 2015 two years ahead of schedule.429 No interim goals were established and
there is currently no goal extension beyond
2015.430 Despite this, the newly enacted net-metering legislation, and an inability to enter into
third-party financing, Oklahoma has a positive
solar jobs outlook.431 Solar installed capacity is
projected to grow through the rest of 2015, and
the new utility installations will help continue
this trend through 2016.432 Similarly, the solar
workforce is expected to follow suit with an 8%
expansion in 2016, representing the addition of
just over 30 new solar workers.
111
TEXAS
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
7,030
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
894
(12.7%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#6
403.4
#34
445
Read the full Texas Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Texas
There were approximately 73.4 megawatts
(MW) of solar capacity installed in Texas in 2015
through Q3.433 This brought Texas’ cumulative
installed capacity to 403.4 MW.434 Year-over-year
projections have total new installed capacity for
2015 nearly doubling the amount that came online in 2014.435 Solar jobs grew slightly year over
year, and there are currently 7,030 solar workers employed in the Texas solar industry.
The year saw other substantial activity in Texas’s solar market, with over 8,000 MW of solar
projects currently under development, driven
primarily by the increasing cost-competitiveness of solar in the Texas electricity market.436,
437, 438
Texas’ residential and non-residential
system pricing were both the lowest in the nation.439 Despite a patchwork of solar incentives
from utilities across the state, residential installations saw large gains. This growth was due in
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% TX
Solar
Jobs
% TX
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
19.7%
44.5%
23.8%
10.5%
4.6%
8.6%
20.6%
37.5%
11.3%
14.9%
18.6%
18.6%
0.4%
-
5.5%
8.6%
7.1%
8.1%
4.8%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
11.8%
5.1%
TX
Solar
Jobs
% TX
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
4,547
64.7%
57.4%
Manufacturing
1,424
20.3%
14.5%
163
2.3%
11.7%
404
5.7%
10.8%
493
7.0%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
part to utility leaders like Oncor, CPS Energy, and
Austin Energy.440 CPS Energy, for example, began
a pilot program to install solar on rooftops in San
Antonio through power purchase agreements.441
Restrictions to residential installations were reduced with passage of Texas Senate Bill 1626,
which provides that developers of expanding
neighborhoods of 50 homes or more cannot prohibit a property owner from installing solar.442, 443
The Lone Star State also saw its first venture into
community solar in 2015, with plans for several
installations underway.444 Utility-scale installations also grew rapidly, with unprecedented low
pricing seen for recent contracts.445, 446
The installation trend is poised to continue into
2016 with expectations of another record-setting year.447 Projected 2016 installations are expected to exceed total 2014 installations many
times over.448 Solar jobs will also grow in 2016,
with numbers projected to increase by about
12.7%, equaling almost 900 new solar workers.
113
Photo courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Photo Credit:
DIVISION 8
MOUNTAIN
The Mountain Division is comprised of Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. With abundant natural
resources, the average utility rate in this region
is 9.65 cents per kWh, which is below the national average of 10.52 cents per kWh.449 Solar
radiation is high in the southern states of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, and fair in Colorado and Utah, making the Division one of the
nation’s best for increased solar deployment.
The northern states of Idaho and Montana are
the Division’s leading producers of hydropower.
Colorado is the Division’s leading producer of
wind power, followed by Wyoming, which also
leads the nation in coal production.
While Nevada has the highest number of solar
workers in the Mountain Division, Arizona leads
in installed capacity, ranking second nationally.
Arizona has aggressively developed solar power,
but its rate of growth declined in 2015 due to an
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
increasingly restrictive policy environment. Nevada is ranked first in the nation in jobs per capita and has experienced rapid growth, resulting
in numerous installation sector jobs; however,
its policies are changing as well. Recent modifications to net metering laws, if maintained, will
almost certainly jeopardize the 18.5% growth in
2016 that was projected by the state’s employers at the time of the survey. Indeed, two major
installation firms operating in the state have already announced substantial reductions in their
Nevada workforces.450
Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah are experiencing strong growth. Colorado is one of the nation’s
leading states in the development of community
solar power. Utah is seeing significant additions
to solar PV capacity through utility-scale development. SunEdison is constructing three solar
power plants for a total of 262 MW.451 Arizona,
the largest solar employer in the Division, will
114
Solar Jobs
State
Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming
Solar Capacity453
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumilative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
6,922
7
7
8.4%
2,209.8
2
17.4%
8.0
4,998
10
8,764
3
381
109
1,899
2,679
90
8
10.3%
1
18.5%
1,016.1
0.7%
2.4
40
38
27
9
49
19
50
45
10
43
experience additional solar job growth in 2016
from the development of a Navajo Nation utility-scale solar farm.452 The northern states of
Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have limited solar development. Their combined solar jobs and
installed capacity are considerably below those
measures of any other single state in the Division.
Most jobs within the Division are in the installation sector. Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah,
and Wyoming all employ a greater percent of
installers than other sectors and are all at or
above the sector’s national average of solar
workers (57.4%). Nevada is dominated by the
installation sector; it represents nearly 95%
of solar employment in the state. Arizona and
New Mexico are more evenly balanced between
installation and manufacturing. In New Mexico,
unlike nearly every other state in the country, a
minority of solar workers are employed by installers and project developers.
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
4.4%
12.3%
24.8%
443.4
9
6.0
39
361.4
11
59.2
38
5
25
45
*through Q3 2015
Mountain Division hiring requirements varied
considerably from those nationally. Division
firms placed greater emphasis on previous
work experience and less emphasis on education than firms reported nationally. Mountain
division hiring difficulty and median wages also
varied from national findings. Division firms
experienced less difficulty in hiring with 20%
reporting hiring as “very difficult” compared to
24% reporting so nationally. The Division sales
representative median wage of $33.65 per hour
was 30% higher than the national median of
$28.85 per hour.
Many of the Mountain Division states have
strong policy incentives for solar power. Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah receive A or B policy
grades for net metering and interconnection.
Nevada received a failing grade because its recently enacted wholesale price for net metering
will pose a barrier for solar development. Failing grades in the northern states were generally
given for nonexistent policies.
115
Mountain
Division
National
85.7%
67.0%
20.2%
24.2%
$20.00
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
RPS targets will likely help to stimulate solar,
especially in the southern states of Arizona
and New Mexico, as well as the middle states of
Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. In these states, solar energy is an established renewable energy
alternative, as exhibited by explicit carve outs
for solar or distributed generation. Utah is the
weakest of the preceding five since its targets
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
12.1%
3.8%
51.8%
28.0%
$33.65
$25.50
-
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
are goals not requirements; however, two of the
northern states, Idaho and Montana, lack an RPS
altogether. Despite their relatively strong solar
resource, when expanding renewable energy
generation, the northern states have tended to
focus on hydropower and wind energy.
116
Policy Grades454
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)455
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
AZ
A
F
15%
2025
-
4.5% Solar
CO
A
B
30%
2020
ID
F
F
-
-
MT
C
C
15%
NV
F
B
NM
B
UT
WY
State
10% target by 2020 for
co-ops & large municipal
utilities
3% Distributed Generation (1.5% Customersited)
2015
-
-
25%
2025
-
1.5% Solar
A
20%
2020
10% by 2020 for co-ops
A
A
20%
2025
Voluntary
D
F
-
-
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
-
4% Solar, 0.6% Distributed Generation
Solar receives a 2.4x
multi-plier toward
overall goal
-
117
ARIZONA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
6,922
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
580
(8.4%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#7
2,209.8
#7
399
Read the full Arizona Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Arizona
Arizona ranks second in the nation with 2,210
megawatts (MW) of cumulative solar capacity.
Approximately 141 MW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity were added in 2015 through
Q3. By comparison, there were 247 MW installed in all of 2014.456 Given that Q4 is typically a high time for solar installations, it is likely
that 2015 new installations will equal or slightly exceed those seen in 2014. With 6,922 solar
workers employed in the solar industry, Arizona
is ranked 7th among the states both in terms of
total solar employment and on a jobs per capita
basis. Most (37%) of these jobs are in the installation sector, followed by a strong manufacturing sector at 34%.
Net metering is available under state rules provided that the system does not exceed 125% of
a customer’s normal load. Net excess generation
is credited at the retail rate but there are fees for
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% AZ
Solar
Jobs
% AZ
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
29.5%
46.1%
23.8%
1.9%
4.0%
8.6%
12.5%
33.7%
11.3%
28.2%
20.6%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
9.3%
8.1%
3.0%
Veterans of
the U.S.
11.5%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
4.6%
5.1%
AZ
Solar
Jobs
% AZ
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
2,549
36.8%
57.4%
Manufacturing
2,400
34.7%
14.5%
1,095
15.8%
11.7%
584
8.4%
10.8%
294
4.2%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
distributed solar generation. For customers of
the Arizona Public Service Company, residential
solar is charged a $0.70 per kilowatt (kW) fee if
installed in 2014 or later.457 One of the nation’s
largest municipal utilities, the Salt River Project
(not under Arizona Service Commission jurisdiction), began charging a fixed monthly fee of
roughly $50 to their solar customers.458 These
fees have contributed to the flattening of growth
over the last couple of years. Arizona has a renewable portfolio standard of 15% by 2025 that
includes a 4.5% carve out for solar power.459
Solar employment is expected to grow 8.4% in
2016 compared to 1.3%460 in overall state workforce growth and 14.7% for solar employment
growth nationally. This 2016 growth would recover 580 of the 2,282 solar jobs lost in 2015.
Given the policy environment, new residential
installations will likely remain below the levels
of the last couple of years. Manufacturing and
utility-scale development will likely continue to
be strong.
119
COLORADO
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
4,998
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
513
(10.3%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#10
443.4
#8
400
Read the full Colorado Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Colorado
Colorado ranks 9th in the nation with 443 megawatts (MW) of cumulative solar capacity. Approximately 45 MW of new installation took
place in 2015 through Q3. By comparison, there
were 67 MW installed in all of 2014.461 By yearend, it is likely that 2015 new installations will
equal or exceed that of 2014. With 4,998 solar
workers employed in the solar industry, Colorado is ranked 10th among the states in terms of
total employment and eighth on a jobs per capita basis. Most (59%) of these jobs are in the installation sector.
In 2010, Colorado became one of the first three
states to pass legislation for community solar
power.462 Known in Colorado as “Community Solar Gardens”, these projects are generally exempt
from property tax and eligible for both PACE financing and virtual net metering. At least 5% of
Colorado subscribers to a solar garden must be
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% CO
Solar
Jobs
% CO
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
46.1%
23.8%
6.3%
2.9%
8.6%
2.8%
3.6%
5.1%
7.7%
17.5%
11.3%
20.5%
21.0%
18.6%
4.0%
-
5.5%
6.5%
8.2%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
CO
Solar
Jobs
% CO
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
2,958
59.2%
57.4%
389
7.8%
14.5%
404
8.1%
11.7%
580
11.6%
10.8%
666
13.3%
5.7%
low income.463 The state reports that it leads the
nation in community solar power “with approximately 28 community solar projects in operation
generating more than 16 MW, and at least 26 in
development with the potential to generate an
additional 31 MW.”464
In 2004, Colorado enacted a renewable portfolio
standard (RPS). The standard requires by that
2020 utilities provide or be provided renewable energy in the amount of: (1) 30% for Investor-owned utilities including 3% from distributed generation; (2) 20% for electric cooperatives
serving 100,000 or more meters; (3)10% for
electric cooperatives serving fewer than 100,000
meters, or; (4) 10% for municipal utilities serving more than 40,000 customers.465
Solar employment is expected to grow 10.3% in
2016 compared to 1.6%466 in overall state workforce growth and 14.7% for solar employment
growth nationally. Colorado will continue to add
new installations in 2016, with a projected annual installed capacity over twice that seen in the
last two years combined.467
121
IDAHO
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
381
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
17
(4.4%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#40
6.0
#38
43
Idaho
Idaho has six megawatts (MW) of cumulative
installed solar capacity. Approximately 1.7 MW
of new installation took place in 2015 through
Q3, compared to little or no installation activity
in 2014.468 With 381 solar workers employed in
the solar industry, Idaho is ranked 40th among
states in terms of total solar jobs and 38th on a
jobs per capita basis. Most (39%) of these jobs
are in sales and distribution followed by 31% of
jobs classified as “other” which includes finance,
legal, research & development, government,
nonprofit, and academic organizations.
Idaho firms are more likely to conduct solar
work as a smaller part of their revenue stream,
with only 8% reporting that they are “pure-play”
(i.e., solar only) firms compared to 48% nationally. They are also less focused in-state and less
focused on policy. Idaho seems to have a good
deal of component manufacturing based on the
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% ID
Solar
Jobs
% ID
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
20.1%
45.1%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
2.3%
11.7%
11.3%
18.8%
21.4%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
7.7%
8.1%
-
Veterans of
the U.S.
13.3%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
5.1%
ID
Solar
Jobs
% ID
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
61
15.9%
57.4%
Manufacturing
25
6.7%
14.5%
149
39.2%
11.7%
29
7.6%
10.8%
116
30.5%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
revenues and activities reported.
Although the state does not have a net metering
policy, the state’s three investor owned utilities
have their own programs that have been approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
Through these programs, utilities credit residential and small commercial customers (up to 25
KW) at the retail rate for net excess generation.
The aggregate capacity limit for net metering
programs is 0.1% of retail peak demand in a designated baseline year.469 Idaho does not have a
renewable portfolio standard.
Solar employment is expected to grow 4.4% in
2016 compared to 14.7% for solar employment
growth nationally. The state’s first utility-scale
solar developments, the 80 MW Grand View Solar II project near Mountain Home and the 40
MW Boise City Solar project, are expected to
completed in 2016.470
123
MONTANA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
109
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
19
(17.4%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#49
8.0
#45
39
Montana
Montana has eight megawatts (MW) of cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. Approximately 1.3 MW of new installation took place in
2015 through Q3, compared to little or no installation activity in 2014.471 With 109 solar workers employed in the solar industry, Montana is
ranked 49th among states in terms of total solar
jobs and 45th on a jobs per capita basis. Most
(49%) of these jobs are in the installation sector,
followed by sales and distribution and “other” at
17% of jobs each.
Montana’s net metering applies to investor-owned utilities with no limit to aggregate
installed capacity. Most of the cooperatives also
have net metering. There is no state standard
agreement for interconnection but the largest
investor-owned utility has a standard agreement
for net metered customers. Montana’s renewable resource standards require 15% renewable
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% MT
Solar
Jobs
% MT
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
18.6%
47.6%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
-
2.2%
11.3%
19.3%
26.6%
18.6%
8.1%
-
5.5%
9.0%
8.1%
-
Veterans of
the U.S.
10.8%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
5.1%
MT
Solar
Jobs
% MT
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
54
49.3%
57.4%
Manufacturing
12
11.0%
14.5%
18
16.8%
11.7%
6
5.3%
10.8%
19
17.6%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
sources from public and investor owned utilities
by 2015 and each year thereafter.472 These standards are primarily met through hydro power;
wind power comprises the bulk of Montana’s
non-hydro renewable portfolio.473
Solar employment is expected to grow 17.4% in
2016 compared to 14.7% for solar employment
growth nationally. This growth is propelled by
residential distributed generation and new utility projects. A number of planned solar projects
could add 60 MW.474 Several electric cooperatives announced community solar projects and
NorthWestern Energy and the city of Bozeman
are planning to build a solar installation at the
city’s wastewater treatment plant.475
125
NEVADA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
8,764
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
1,625
(18.5%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#3
1,016.1
#1
116
Nevada
Nevada ranks fifth in the nation with 1,016
megawatts (MW) of cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. Approximately 218 MW of
new installation took place in 2015 through Q3.
By comparison, there were 349 MW installed in
all of 2014.476 Given that the final quarter of the
year is typically a big quarter for solar installation, total installed capacity for 2015 will likely
equal or exceed that from the previous year. With
approximately 8,765 solar workers employed in
the solar industry, Nevada is ranked third among
the states in terms of total employment and first
on a jobs per capita basis. Most (95%) of these
jobs are in the installation business.
In 2015, Nevada eliminated retail rate net-metering. A December vote of the Nevada PUC decreased excess solar generation reimbursement
for both existing and future customers to the
wholesale rate.477 The reduction was to phase
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% NV
Solar
Jobs
% NV
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
14.0%
44.7%
23.8%
7.3%
8.2%
8.6%
14.6%
26.8%
11.3%
35.3%
19.8%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
9.0%
9.8%
8.1%
7.3%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
7.5%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
NV
Solar
Jobs
% NV
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
8,285
94.5%
57.4%
235
2.7%
14.5%
121
1.4%
11.7%
75
0.9%
10.8%
48
0.5%
5.7%
in over a four-year period starting January 1,
2016. The state is also increasing fixed service
charges.478 The change in net metering has been
controversial. Solar companies such as Solar
City, Sunrun, and Vivint have announced that
they will no longer install solar in the state.479 In
a January 6, 2016 press release, SolarCity reported that they will eliminate 550 Nevada jobs.480
Nevada has a renewable portfolio standard requiring investor-owned utilities to derive 25%
of retail electric sales from renewables by 2025,
with interim targets leading up to the final compliance year. Starting in 2016, 6% of the annual
requirement must be sourced from solar technologies.481
Solar employment is expected to grow 18.5%
in 2016 compared to 14.7% solar employment
growth nationally. This projection is based on
the Census survey conducted prior to the recent
changes to net metering discussed above. Therefore, should the rulings above remain and companies reconsider doing business in the state,
growth will likely be considerably less than the
18.5% projection.
127
NEW MEXICO
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
1,899
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
234
(12.3%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#27
361.4
#9
102
Read the full New Mexico Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
New Mexico
New Mexico ranks 11th in the nation with 361
megawatts (MW) of solar capacity. Approximately 37 MW of new installation took place in 2015
through Q3. By comparison, there were 88 MW
installed in all of 2014.482 With approximately
1,900 employed in the solar industry, New Mexico is ranked 27th among the states in terms of
total solar employment and ninth on a jobs per
capita basis. Most (30%) of these jobs are in the
installation sector, followed by manufacturing at
21% of jobs. New Mexico firms report higher difficulty in hiring than nationally (73% reporting
very difficult v. 24% nationally).
Net metering is available for all customers
except those of municipal utilities, which aren’t
regulated by the Public Regulation Commission.
There is no aggregate cap on installed capacity.483
New Mexico renewable portfolio standards
require that by 2020 investor-owned utilities
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
% NM
Solar
Jobs
% NM
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
21.8%
46.0%
23.8%
4.3%
2.7%
5.1%
6.2%
2.5%
8.6%
39.5%
44.4%
11.3%
15.8%
24.6%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
9.0%
8.1%
Veterans of
the U.S.
11.4%
Armed Forces
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
NM
Solar
Jobs
% NM
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
578
30.4%
57.4%
346
18.2%
11.7%
250
13.2%
10.8%
330
17.4%
5.7%
396
20.9%
14.5%
must generate 20% of their sales from renewable
sources (cooperatives must generate 10%).
There is a 4% carve out for solar and another
0.6% for distributed generation. The latter
can’t be used to satisfy the former.484 Efforts are
underway to renew New Mexico’s 10% solar
tax credit which expires at the end of 2016.
Solar employment is expected to grow 12.3%
in 2016 compared to .9% overall statewide employment growth and 14.7% for solar employment growth nationally. In April, the nation’s
largest residential installation company, SolarCity, announced it would be opening a new operations center in Albuquerque, representing a
significant commitment to the New Mexico market and reflecting a level of confidence that the
state’s policy environment was conducive to sustained growth.485
129
UTAH
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
2,679
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
665
(24.8%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#19
59.2
#10
84
Read the full Utah Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
Utah
Utah ranks 25th in the nation with 59 megawatts
(MW) of cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, of which approximately 42 MW came online in 2015 through Q3. By comparison, there
were 14 MW installed in all of 2014. 486 With
2,679 solar workers employed in the solar industry, Utah is ranked 19th among the states in
terms of total employment and tenth on a jobs
per capita basis. Most (75%) of these jobs are in
the installation sector, followed by 16% of jobs
in sales and distribution.
Utah requires net metering credited at the retail rate for residential and small commercial
customers of Rocky Mountain Power (the only
investor-owned utility in the state) and at avoided-cost for electric cooperative customers.487 It
is expexted that net metering will continue in
Utah, but rates may be adjusted at some future
date. Utah has a renewable portfolio goal (with
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% UT
Solar
Jobs
% UT
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
18.2%
42.3%
23.8%
3.2%
-
8.6%
1.1%
12.9%
11.3%
23.5%
17.2%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
3.6%
5.3%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
-
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
UT
Solar
Jobs
% UT
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
2,013
75.1%
57.4%
96
3.6%
14.5%
422
15.8%
11.7%
84
3.1%
10.8%
63
2.4%
5.7%
which compliance is voluntary, unlike a renewable portfolio standard) of 20% of sales by 2025.
Utilities are expected to generate 20% of adjusted sales from renewable sources provided that
it is cost effective to do so. Adjusted sales are after deducting sales “reduced by kWh attributed
to nuclear power plants, demand-side management measures, and fossil fuels that sequester
their carbon emissions.”488
Solar employment was reported to grow 24.8%
in 2016 compared to 1.9% for overall state employment growth and 14.7% solar employment
growth nationally. Another data set from PacifiCorp, lists 200.6 MW of utility-scale facilities
with commercial operation dates in 2015, and
a massive 803.3 MW in additional solar capacity with commercial operation dates proposed in
2016.489
131
WYOMING
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
90
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
1
(0.7%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#50
2.4
#43
12
Wyoming
Wyoming has 2.4 megawatts (MW) of cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, of which 0.4
MW were installed in 2015 through Q3. There
was little or no installation activity in 2014.490
With approximately 90 solar workers employed
in the solar industry, Wyoming is ranked 50th
among states in solar jobs and 43rd on a jobs per
capita basis. Most (59%) of these jobs are in the
installation business followed by sales and distribution at 28% of jobs.
Wyoming utilities generally offer net metering
credited at the retail rate with no aggregate capacity. However, the language of the legislation
has been interpreted by the Public Service Commission to provide utilities flexibility in determining the rate.491 There is a very low, 25Kw cap
on individual system capacity.492
Wyoming lacks renewable portfolio standards
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% WY
Solar
Jobs
% WY
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
25.5%
44.2%
23.8%
-
-
8.6%
-
8.2%
11.3%
11.8%
22.8%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
-
10.2%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
1.7%
5.1%
WY
Solar
Jobs
% WY
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
53
59.0%
57.4%
Manufacturing
2
2.0%
14.5%
25
27.8%
11.7%
7
7.3%
10.8%
4
3.9%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
but has one of the largest state greenhouse gas
(GHG) reduction targets (44% below 2005 emissions) under the Clean Power Plan. Therefore,
there is an opportunity to deploy solar energy
to help meet those needs.493 Moreover, given
the state’s wind speeds, it is well positioned to
lower GHG through wind power. Nonetheless,
Wyoming is the nation’s biggest coal production
state; Wyoming energy will likely be dominated
by coal for the foreseeable future.
Solar employment is expected to grow 0.7% in
2016 compared to 14.7% solar employment
growth nationally. Announced solar development includes solar panels at the University of
Wyoming.494
133
Photo Credit:
DIVISION 9
Photo Credit: Roxie Brown, The Solar Foundation
PACIFIC
The Pacific Division, comprised of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, is rich
in natural energy resources, including hydro,
solar, onshore and offshore wind, and geothermal. States in the Division exemplify many of the
extremes in U.S. energy production, costs, and
options. Washington’s Grand Coulee Dam on
the Columbia River, for example, is the largest
hydroelectric power producer in the U.S. Three
states in the division, California, Oregon, and
Washington, rank in the top-10 for both total installed wind energy capacity and number of turbines.495 Hawaii is one of only seven states with
installed geothermal capacity, which provides
19% of the state’s renewable net electricity generation.496 While the Division includes two of
the top-5 states ranked for solar resources, California (2nd) and Hawaii (5th), it also includes
Alaska, which ranks 51st in available solar.497
Utility costs in Pacific Division states also repState Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
resent extremes. Hawaii has the nation’s highest utility costs, with an average rate of 26.81
cents per kWh. Alaskans pay the third highest
rates for electricity at 17.96 cents per kWh. Conversely, ratepayers in Washington are charged
the nation’s lowest utility rate of 7.32 cents per
kWh, largely due to abundant hydro resources.
The average utility cost for this region is 13.84
cents per kWh, which is 31.6% higher than the
national average of 10.52 cents per kWh.498
California continues to lead in many solar sectors and statistics. Not only is California first
in installed solar capacity (12,146.8 MW), it is
also home to the largest photovoltaic project in
the world; the 579 MW Solar Star project499 and
the five largest concentrated solar power (CSP)
plants in the world, including the Ivanpah Solar
Electric Generating System in the Mojave Desert. The plant improved its performance yearover-year by 181% and in the first four months
134
Solar Jobs
State
Alaska
California
Hawaii
Oregon
Washington
Solar Capacity*
Jobs
National
Rank
Jobs Per
Capita
Rank
2016
Projected
Growth
Cumilative
Installed
Capacity (MW)
National
Rank
33
51
51
24.1%
1.2
47
2,999
16
13
14.9%
103.9
22
75,598
2,814
2,262
1
17
21
5
4
29
of 2015 generated 183 GWh of electricity.500
Hawaii, with 537.8 MW installed solar capacity
ranks 8th nationally while Oregon and Washington rank 22nd and 27th respectively. Alaska, with 1.2 MW total installed solar capacity, is
47th in national rankings.501
With a combined total of nearly 52 million, the
Pacific Division is home to 16% of the U.S. population. With 83,706 solar workers, the Division
represents 40% of the U.S. solar workforce. California’s solar workforce, perpetually the largest, grew a remarkable 38% in the past year
to 75,598 solar workers. Oregon outpaced California, growing its solar workforce by 42.8%
and now has 2,999 solar workers. Hawaii saw
27.9% growth in its solar workforce. Alaska’s
solar workforce grew by 10% while Washington
experienced a 5.75% reduction in solar jobs. Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington rank 17th, 16th,
and 21st in total solar jobs, and Alaska ranks
51st.
Most solar jobs in the Division are in the installation sector. Eighty-eight percent of the solar
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
18.9%
12,146.8
15.4%
54.2
17.7%
537.8
1
8
27
*through Q3 2015
jobs in Hawaii are in installation, as are 80%
of the solar jobs in Alaska; considerably higher
than the Division average of 67.62%, and higher
than the U.S. average (57.4%). Oregon has 1,149
solar workers, with 38.3% employed in the
manufacturing sector. The state has 50% of its
solar workforce in the installation sector, which
is the lowest in the Division. In 2016, all states
in the Pacific Division expect to outpace the projected average solar jobs growth rate of 14.7%.
Oregon expects 14.9% growth while Alaska expects 24.1% growth. The remaining states are
projecting growth rates between Alaska and Oregon’s: Washington (15.4%), Hawaii (17.7%),
and California (18.9%).
Hiring requirements in Pacific Division states
vary considerably from nationally reported averages. Solar employers in the Division, for example, place greater emphasis on education requirements. Forty-six percent of Pacific Division
firms require a Bachelor’s degree (12% higher),
and they seek candidates with Associate’s degrees or certificates 5% more than firms in other parts of the country. Solar employers in the
135
Pacific
Division
National
68.5%
67.0%
23.3%
24.2%
$22.00
$21.00
Hiring Requirements
Previous Work Experience
Bachelor's Degree or Beyond
Associate's Degree or Certificate but not BA
Hiring Dificulty
Very Difficult
Somewhat Difficult
Not at all Difficult
Median Wages
Installer
Sales Representative
Designer
Assembly Worker
Pacific Division report hiring difficulty in line
with employers in other parts of the country.
However, wages paid to solar workers in the Division are higher than wages paid in other parts
of the U.S. Assembly workers in the Division
earn 33% more ($20 per hour) than workers
outside of the Division, and Designers earn 15%
more ($30 per hour). While not as significant,
Installers earn $22, which is 4.7% higher than
the national median.
Many of the Pacific Division states have strong
policy incentives for solar power. Hawaii has
one of the most progressive commitments to
renewable energy in the nation. In 2015, the
Aloha State became the first to adopt a goal of
100% renewable energy by 2045502 and already
has 312 watts of solar power capacity per resident, the highest amount of solar per capita in
the nation.503 Until 2014, Hawaii had consistently earned high grades – A for net metering and
State Solar Jobs Census Compendium 2015
46.7%
14.0%
52.7%
24.0%
$28.85
$30.00
$20.00
34.9%
9.7%
51.7%
24.2%
$28.85
$26.00
$15.00
B or A for interconnection.504 But since Hawaii’s
Public Utility Commission closed net metering
programs to new participants,505 the state received a grade of F for net metering in 2015, but
it retained a grade of A for interconnection.506
In 2015, California residents supported the
state’s commitment to source 50% of electricity
from renewables by 2030,507 while Oregon has
targeted 25% by 2025, with a solar carve out of
20 MW. California and Oregon received policy
grades of A for net metering and interconnection, which both have done since at least 2013.
Washington is seeking 15% renewables by 2020
while Alaska is one of the few remaining states
lacking RPS targets. Alaska received a grade of
C for net metering policies and a grade of F for
interconnection. Washington received B grades
in both categories, as it has since 2013.508
136
Policy Grades509
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
Net
Meter.
Interconnection
RPS
Target
RPS Target
Deadline
RPS Notes
Relevant RPS
Carve Out Target %
C
F
-
-
-
-
CA
A
A
50%
2030
HI
F
A
100%
2045
OR
A
A
25%
2025
WA
B
B
15%
2020
State
AK
Increased targets in 2015
from 33% by 2020 to
50% by 2030.
Only state with RPS goal
of 100% by 2045.
-
Targets scaled to utility
size: Large-utilities must
System capacity
source 25% renewables
500kW to 5MW receive
by 2025, Medium-sized
2x multiplier toward
utilities, 10% by 2025,
RPS, up to 20MW
and Small utilities, 5% by
2025
Distributed Generation
projects receive 2x multiplier toward RPS
Photo Credit: O2 emc
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
137
ALASKA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
33
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
8
(24.1%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#51
1.1
#51
11
Alaska
Approximately 0.4 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity were installed in Alaska in 2015 through
Q3.510 These installations almost doubled the
total capacity installed in 2014.511 Alaska’s cumulative solar capacity through Q3 2015 is 1.1
MW.512 Minimal additional installations are expected in Q4 2015.513 There were 33 solar workers employed in Alaska and 11 solar companies
statewide in 2015.
The solar resource in Alaska is the lowest in the
United States.514 In addition, this solar resource
is unevenly distributed throughout the year; cities in Alaska receive extensive sunlight in the
summer and limited sunlight in the winter.515
Yet, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems still offer a
viable option, as demonstrated by current installations and future proposed uses. One proposed
use is to substitute solar PV for a portion of the
diesel fuel used to power microgrids throughout
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% AK
Solar
Jobs
% AK
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
24.3%
46.5%
23.8%
-
6.7%
8.6%
-
6.4%
11.3%
33.3%
21.9%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
6.7%
13.2%
8.1%
-
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
3.2%
5.1%
AK
Solar
Jobs
% AK
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
27
81.9%
57.4%
Manufacturing
0
0.0%
14.5%
1
4.5%
11.7%
0
0.0%
10.8%
5
15.3%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
Alaska.516 This could help provide resilience for
populations connected to these microgrids and
lower the price of electricity. Alaska has the second highest electricity rate in the U.S. at 17.58
cents/kWh.517
Alaska does not have a renewable portfolio
standard, and the status of third-party power
purchase agreements is unclear.518, 519 Yet, the
Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) approved net metering requirements in 2009 and
the state provides tax incentives for solar energy systems.520, 521 Additionally, the RCA changed
purchasing rules for utilities so that they must
now buy the cheapest power as opposed to basing purchases on the “average costs” of power
sources.522 This new regulation also requires
utilities to publish a set of criteria that detail the
fees associated with grid integration of energy
resources.523 Solar jobs are projected to increase
by about 24% in 2016, which equates to 8 additional solar workers.
139
CALIFORNIA
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
75,598
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
14,318
(18.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#1
12,146.8
#5
2,336
Read the full California Solar Jobs Census 2015 for more information.
California
California’s preeminence in solar energy production and solar jobs continued in 2015. The state
added 2,170 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2015 through Q3, bringing
its cumulative total installed solar capacity to
12,147 MW.524 California continues to drive residential solar demand in the U.S. and is the leader in total solar PV systems installed with over
445,000.525
The U.S. solar workforce grew substantially in
2015, and 62% of that growth was in California.
Adding nearly 21,000 jobs in 2015, California
now has more than 75,500 solar workers. The
38% increase in solar jobs was more than twice
the 17.2% growth projection from the previous
year’s Census report.526 Today, 36% percent of
the total U.S. solar workforce is in the Golden
State.
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% CA
Solar
Jobs
% CA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
27.7%
45.5%
23.8%
4.4%
5.5%
5.1%
12.2%
14.9%
8.6%
14.4%
36.1%
11.3%
17.5%
21.1%
18.6%
10.0%
-
5.5%
9.2%
4.6%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
CA
Solar
Jobs
% CA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
40,597
53.7%
57.4%
Manufacturing 11,183
14.8%
14.5%
11,223
14.8%
11.7%
8,979
11.9%
10.8%
3,617
4.8%
5.7%
Sector
Installation
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
The largest photovoltaic project in the world
came online in California in June 2015.527 The
579 MW Solar Star surpassed another California project, the 550 MW Desert Sunlight solar
plant, for this distinction.528 The three largest solar projects in the United States are all located in
California, where utility-scale solar generation
has increased six-fold since 2012.529, 530
California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, signed SB 350
into law in 2015, which raised the state’s renewable portfolio standard, increasing the requirement from 33% to 50% of each investor-owned
and municipal utility’s retails electricity sales
be derived from renewable sources by 2030.531
More than 80% of Californians support the 50%
goal.532 In 2015, regulators approved a successor
NEM tariff which will charge new customers a
modest one-time interconnection fee, retain the
valuation of net excess generation at the utility retail rate, charge “non-bypassable” charges
for all imports from the grid rather than on net
energy usage, and require these customers to
quickly move over to TOU rates.533 Employers are
projecting 18.9% solar job growth in 2016.534
141
HAWAII
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
2,814
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
499
(17.7%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#17
537.8
#4
116
Hawaii
Approximately 90.3 megawatts (MW) of solar
photovoltaic (PV) capacity were installed in Hawaii in 2015 through Q3, putting the state on
pace to meet or exceed the 106.9 MW installed
in 2014, bringing the state’s cumulative installed
capacity to nearly 538 MW.535 Hiring by the local
solar industry has kept pace, and as of November
2015 there are 2,814 solar workers in Hawaii’s
solar workforce with the vast majority of workers (88%) employed in the installation sector.
In June of 2015, Hawaii’s legislature set the ambitious goal of deriving 100% of its electricity from
renewable energy sources by 2045.536 Currently,
about 22% of the state’s electricity is generated
from renewable sources, however, several developments in the past year make the role of solar
in the state’s goal uncertain.537 In reaction to
the islands’ unique marketplace and geographic
need for renewable energy, Hawaii has hit record
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% HI
Solar
Jobs
% HI
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
16.0%
47.4%
23.8%
47.5%
44.4%
8.6%
11.5%
8.4%
11.3%
9.4%
25.1%
18.6%
-
-
5.5%
6.5%
7.2%
8.1%
1.9%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
1.7%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
HI
Solar
Jobs
% HI
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
2,476
88.0%
57.4%
71
2.5%
14.5%
146
5.2%
11.7%
75
2.7%
10.8%
46
1.7%
5.7%
levels of solar penetration, where almost 12% of
homes currently possess solar energy devices.538
The prevalence of distributed solar has had a significant impact on Hawaii’s largest utilities, and
created substantial policy shifts and uncertainty
regarding the future of solar interconnection in
the state.539 In October of 2015, state regulators
closed the retail rate net metering program to
new participants, replacing the program with
two new alternatives that impact the economics
for solar projects and are expected to slow solar
installations in coming years.540
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Hawaii’s
rapidly changing solar marketplace, the state’s
solar employers are projecting 17.7% employment growth in 2016, but that may be a conservative figure.541 The Hawaii Public Utility Commission approved four utility-scale solar projects,
which will add 137 MW to the state’s capacity542
and according to a bill passed in 2015, all utilities
have either started community solar projects or
submitted plans to develop community solar.543
143
OREGON
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
2,999
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
446
(14.9%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#16
103.9
#13
149
Oregon
Oregon added more than 19 megawatts (MW)
of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2015
through Q3, which is twice the capacity installed
in the state in the previous year (8.2 MW).544
The state’s cumulative installed capacity is now
103.9 MW.545 Since 2002, Energy Trust of Oregon
has helped residents and the state to develop
5,363 solar systems, which generate about 54
MW of renewable power.546
There are 2,999 solar workers in Oregon, an increase over last year. Thirty-eight percent of the
state’s solar workers are employed in the manufacturing sector, which is 2.6 times the national
average of 14.5%.
By 2025, Oregon’s large utilities will be required
to derive 25% of their retail electricity sales
from newer, renewable sources.547 20 megawatts
of that generation must be from large solar PV
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% OR
Solar
Jobs
% OR
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
26.2%
47.3%
23.8%
1.5%
1.6%
5.1%
9.4%
4.8%
8.6%
13.2%
10.1%
11.3%
19.9%
23.7%
18.6%
0.1%
-
5.5%
5.0%
8.6%
8.1%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
OR
Solar
Jobs
% OR
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
Installation
1,501
50.0%
57.4%
Manufacturing
1,149
38.3%
14.5%
147
4.9%
11.7%
109
3.6%
10.8%
92
3.1%
5.7%
Sector
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
projects by 2020.548 Oregon has consistently received a grade of “A” from Freeing the Grid for
its net metering rules, which apply to nearly all
utilities, credit net excess generation at the retail
rate (for investor-owned utilities; rates vary for
non-IOU customers), and specify no caps on aggregate capacity for customers of the state’s two
largest investor-owned utilities.549
Since 2005, the median installed price per watt
for solar PV systems has dropped by more than
50% in the state.550 Looking for greater flexibility
for Oregonians interested in adopting solar, the
Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) opened
separate proceedings to develop a community
program design to recommend to the legislature
and to determine a methodology for calculating
the resource value of solar.551
Several solar projects are in development in Oregon, including a nearly 10-megawatt facility east
near Redmond and a near-complete 2 MW rooftop solar project at the Oregon Convention Center.552 Solar jobs are expected to grow by 14.9%
in 2016, which is nearly identical to the 14.7%
national growth projection.553
145
WASHINGTON
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
2,262
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
349
(15.4%)
Solar Jobs
Rank
Solar Jobs
Per Capita Rank
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)
Total Solar
Companies**
#21
54.2
#29
136
Washington
One of few states that saw minor contraction in
solar jobs in 2015, Washington now has 2,262
solar workers, which is slightly lower than the
previous year. An estimated 15.5 megawatts
(MW) of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity were installed in 2015 through Q3, about
10% more than the previous year, which brings
Washington’s total to 54.2 MW cumulative installed solar PV capacity.554
Under Initiative 937, the Energy Independence
Act, electric utilities that serve more than 25,000
customers must obtain 15% of their electricity from new renewable resources by 2020 and
must undertake cost-effective energy conservation measures. Distributed generation in Washington receives a two times credit multiplier
under the state’s RPS requirements.555 Washington has received a grade of “B” from Freeing
the Grid for its net metering policy, which apply
Demographic
Women
AfricanAmerican
Asian or
Pacific
Islander
Latino or
Hispanic
Older
Workers
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the U.S.
Armed Forces
% WA
Solar
Jobs
% WA
Overall
Jobs†
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
26.5%
46.7%
23.8%
4.3%
8.1%
8.6%
3.6%
10.8%
11.3%
16.0%
22.6%
18.6%
6.8%
-
5.5%
6.0%
9.3%
8.1%
2.5%
State Solar Jobs Compendium 2015
3.3%
5.1%
Sector
Installation
Manufacturing
Sales &
Distribution
Project
Development
Other
WA
Solar
Jobs
% WA
Solar
Jobs
% U.S.
Solar
Jobs
1,429
63.2%
57.4%
274
12.1%
14.5%
37
1.6%
11.7%
297
13.1%
10.8%
225
9.9%
5.7%
to all utilities and credit net excess generation
at the retail rate. Its comparatively low cap on
aggregate capacity (0.5% of peak demand from
a base year) keeps it from receiving the highest
grade.556 Washington is also one of the few states
to have taken steps at the state-level to address
solar “soft costs” (e.g., local administrative or
business process costs) – through allowing local jurisdictions to exempt solar energy systems
from certain requirements of the state building
code. This effectively allows jurisdictions to establish expedited permitting processes for qualifying residential solar energy systems.557
Last summer, Governor Jay Inslee directed the
state's Department of Ecology to more strictly
enforce an emissions target set in 2008, imposing a binding cap on carbon emissions under the
authority of the state's Clean Air Act.558
The state’s installed capacity in 2016 is expected
to significantly exceed the previous year’s total.
As such, employers are projecting that Washington’s solar workforce to grow approximately
15% in 2016.
147
ENDNOTES
† U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by state – 2014
Annual Averages” and “Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by state – 2014 Annual Averages.” Found at:
http://www.bls.gov/
‡ U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Form EIA-826, Table 5.6.B. Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate
Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, Year-to-Date through September 2015 and 2014 (Cents per Kilowatthour).”
Found at: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia826/
** National Solar Database, SEIA – as of December 15, 2015, available at: http://www.seia.org/research-resources/
national-solar-database
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
In this survey, solar employees are defined as a worker that spends at least 50% of their time on solar-related
work. However, we have consistently found that 90% or more of these workers spend 100% of their time on solarrelated work.
JobsEQ 2015Q3; Projected growth is 1.1%
The survey took place prior to the extension of the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) beyond 2016.
The extension is expected to reduce pressure to complete projects in 2016. This will likely result in lower
solar employment growth in 2016 but higher solar employment in 2017 resulting in greater stability in solar
employment. Prior to this policy change, major job losses had been expected for 2017.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
PV Magazine (January 25, 2016). It's Official: China has the Most Solar PV Installed Globally.
NREL, PV Watts Calculator. Retrieved January 28, 2016 from http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
QER Report: Energy Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure | April, 2015, p. 3-8
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Berkeley National Labs, Electronic Markets & Policy Group, Characteristics of Low Priced Solar Photovoltaic
Systems in the United States, January, 2016, based on 2013 installations.
SEPA, Photovoltaic System Price Quotes from Selected States, 2014 - 2015
Id. QER Report, p. 3-10
Freeing the Grid. Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Retrieved January
26, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. http://www.dsireusa.org/
NREL, PV Watts Calculator. Retrieved January 28, 2016 from http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
EIA year-to-date average price for all customers, Sept. 30, 2015
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Massachusetts Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.
dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/479
Freeing the Grid. Massachusetts. http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/massachusetts
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Freeing the Grid. Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Retrieved January
26, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. http://www.dsireusa.org/
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
Energize Connecticut (2015). Residential Solar Investment Program. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://
www.energizect.com/your-home/solutions-list/residential-solar-investment-program
An Act Concerning the Encouragement of Local Economic Development and Access to Residential Renewable
Energy, Public Act No. 15-194.
Connecticut Green Bank (2015). Residential Solar Investment Program – Information on Installers and Costs –
Updated 12/04/2015 [Data file]. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.energizect.com/sites/default/
files/uploads/Section%20106%20Data%20for%20Web_25.xls
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015 and other
regional changes that did not take effect until the end of 2015.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia826/; U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015, October 21).
Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
NREL, PV Watts Calculator. Retrieved January 28, 2016 from http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, December 24). Electric Power Monthly. Retrieved January 10,
2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_6_b
State of Maine, Office of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. MPUC Case Number 2015-00218. “Office of the
Public Advocate Straw Proposals.” Filed 11/30/2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016 from https://mpuc-cms.maine.
gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Common/CaseMaster.aspx?CaseNumber=2015-00218
Office of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. MPUC Case Number 2015-00218. Retrieved January 10, 2016
from https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Common/CaseMaster.aspx?CaseNumber=2015-00218
State of Maine, Office of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. MPUC Case Number 2015-00218. Comments of
The Alliance for Solar Choice Regarding Consensus. Filed 1/5/2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016 from https://
mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Common/CaseMaster.aspx?CaseNumber=2015-00218
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015 and other
regional changes that did not take effect until the end of 2015.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
Lacey, S. (2015, November 19). Failure to Reach Net Metering Deal Could Kill 100 MW of Commercial Solar in
Mass. Next Year. Greentech Media. Retrieved January 10, 2016 from www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/
failed-compromise-on-net-metering-in-massachusetts
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015 and other
regional changes that did not take effect until the end of 2015.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (2015). “Residential Small Renewable Electrical Generation
Systems Rebate.” Retrieved January 12, 2016 from https://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/
RenewableEnergyRebates-SREG.html
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (2015). “Commercial & Industrial Solar Incentive Program.” Retrieved
January 12, 2016 from https://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/RenewableEnergyRebates-CI.html
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (2015). “Residential Small Renewable Electrical Generation
Systems Rebate.” Retrieved January 12, 2016 from https://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/
RenewableEnergyRebates-SREG.html
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. (2015). New Hampshire Electric Cooperative’s (NHEC) Interconnection (Net
Metering) Application Instructions: Terms and Conditions. Retrieved January 12, 2016, from http://www.nhec.
com/filerepository/2015_net__interconnection_application.pdf
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (2015). Above the Cap - Net Metering Summary. Retrieved January 12, 2016,
from http://www.nhec.com/filerepository/nhec__above_the_cap_net_metering_summary_3.pdf
Liberty Utilities (2015, August 5th). “Net Metering Program Closed: State imposed cap reached.” Retrieved January
12, 2016 from http://www.libertyutilities.com/east/electricity/about/news_08-05-15.html
Eversource (2015). Net Metering Program Capacity Cap. Retrieved January 12, 2016, from https://www.
eversource.com/Content/nh/about/doing-business-with-us/builders-contractors/interconnections/newhampshire-net-metering/new-hampshire-net-metering-program-capacity-cap
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
Unitil (2015). Net Metering. Retrieved January 12, 2016 from http://unitil.com/energy-for-residents/electricinformation/distributed-energy-resources/net-metering
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (2015). Above the Cap - Net Metering Summary. Retrieved January 12, 2016,
from http://www.nhec.com/filerepository/nhec__above_the_cap_net_metering_summary_3.pdf
Liberty Utilities (2015, August 5th). “Net Metering Program Closed: State imposed cap reached.” Retrieved January
12, 2016 from http://www.libertyutilities.com/east/electricity/about/news_08-05-15.html
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015 and other
regional changes that did not take effect until the end of 2015.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia826/; U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015, October 21).
Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
Renewable Energy Standard, R.I. General Laws §39-26-1 et seq.
Freeing the Grid. Rhode Island. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/rhodeisland
Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (2015). RI Renewable Energy Development Fund: Annual Financial and
Performance Report for the year ending 12/31/2014. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://commerceri.com/
wp-content/uploads/2015/12/REF-Financial-and-Performance-Report-3.1.2015.pdf
National Grid (2015). Rhode Island Renewable Energy Growth Program Solicitation and Enrollment Process Rules
for Small-Scale Solar Projects. Retrieved January 11, 2016 from https://www.nationalgridus.com/narragansett/
non_html/RE%20Growth%20Enrollment%20Process%20Rules-Small%20Scale%20Solar.pdf
Review of the Narragansett Electric Company d/b/a National Grid – Review of Electric Distribution Design
Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §39-26.6-24, Docket No. 4568 (pending). Retrieved January 14, 2016, from http://
www.ripuc.org/eventsactions/docket/4568page.html
Id.
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015 and other
regional changes that did not take effect until the end of 2015.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Vermont Statutes Annotated §8002 et seq.
Green Mountain Power Corporation (2015). “Solar FAQ.” Retrieved January 13, 2016 from http://www.
greenmountainpower.com/innovative/solar/faqs/
Vermont Public Service Board (2016). Revised Rule 5.100 Pursuant to Act 99. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from
http://psb.vermont.gov/statutesrulesandguidelines/proposedrules/rule5100
Vermont Statutes Annotated §219a.
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015 and other
regional changes that did not take effect until the end of 2015.
EIA year-to-date average price for all customers, Sept. 30, 2015
NREL, PV Watts Calculator. Retrieved January 28, 2016 from http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
SEIA State Solar Policy Fact Sheet: New York Solar. http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/new-york
Utility Dive. NY regulators lift solar net metering caps until REV docket sets DER values. http://www.utilitydive.
com/news/ny-regulators-lift-solar-net-metering-caps-until-rev-docket-sets-der-values/407667/
Utility Dive. NY regulators lift solar net metering caps until REV docket sets DER values. http://www.utilitydive.
com/news/ny-regulators-lift-solar-net-metering-caps-until-rev-docket-sets-der-values/407667/
New Jersey Resources. NJR Clean Energy Ventures Announces Completion of Solar Projects in Howell and North
Hanover Totaling 16 Megawatts. http://www.njresources.com/news/releases/2015/njrcev/15-13NJRCEVHowell
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
NorthHanoverCommercialSolar.asp
PSEG. Two New PSE&G Landfill Solar Farms in Service. https://www.pseg.com/info/media/
newsreleases/2015/2015-02-05.jsp#.VpUUKRUrKhd
Hefler, J. Solar farm at L&D Landfill operating fully. http://articles.philly.com/2015-12-29/news/69359405_1_
solar-farm-solar-panels-kinsley-landfill
Id.
Utility Dive. PA regulators propose net metering cap at 200% of system owner’s demand. http://www.utilitydive.
com/news/pa-regulators-propose-net-metering-cap-at-200-of-system-owners-demand/400076/
Utility Dive. PA regulators propose net metering cap at 200% of system owner’s demand. http://www.utilitydive.
com/news/pa-regulators-propose-net-metering-cap-at-200-of-system-owners-demand/400076/
Freeing the Grid. New Jersey. http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/new-jersey
Freeing the Grid. New York. http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/new-york
Freeing the Grid. Pennsylvania. http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/pennsylvania
Cuomo A. (December 2, 2015). Renewable Energy Letter. https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/
files/atoms/files/RenewableEnergyLetter_1.pdf
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Pennsylvania, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.
dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/262
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. New Jersey, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
org/system/program/detail/564
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Pennsylvania, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.
dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/262
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. New Jersey, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
org/system/program/detail/564
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
NC Clean Energy Technology Center & Meister Consultants Group. The 50 States of Solar: Q3 2015. https://
nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/50-States-of-Solar-Q3-FINAL_25.pdf
NC Clean Energy Technology Center & Meister Consultants Group. The 50 States of Solar: Q3 2015. https://
nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/50-States-of-Solar-Q3-FINAL_25.pdf
New Jersey Resources, “NJR Clean Energy Ventures Announces Completion of Solar Projects in Howell and North
Hanover Totaling 16 Megawatts” http://www.njresources.com/news/releases/2015/njrcev/15-13NJRCEVHowell
NorthHanoverCommercialSolar.asp
PSEG. Two New PSE&G Landfill Solar Farms in Service. https://www.pseg.com/info/media/
newsreleases/2015/2015-02-05.jsp#.VpUUKRUrKhd
Hefler, J. Solar farm at L&D Landfill operating fully. http://articles.philly.com/2015-12-29/news/69359405_1_
solar-farm-solar-panels-kinsley-landfill
Id.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
State of New York Department of Public Service (2015, July 28). Staff White Paper on Ratemaking and Utility
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Utility Dive. NY regulators propose groundbreaking new utility models under landmark REV order. http://www.
utilitydive.com/news/ny-regulators-propose-groundbreaking-new-utility-models-under-landmark-rev/403111/
State of New York Public Service Commission. Order granting a rehearing, establishing a transition plan for
remote net metering, and other findings. April 17, 2015, http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.
aspx?DocRefId=%7B12D9EA05-7A97-45C9-B8EF-F634731A4276%7D
Utility Dive. NY regulators propose groundbreaking new utility models under landmark REV order. http://www.
utilitydive.com/news/ny-regulators-propose-groundbreaking-new-utility-models-under-landmark-rev/403111/
101. NY-SUN. Community Distributed Generation: Overview for Project Developers. http://ny-sun.ny.gov/-/media/
NYSun/files/Contractor%20Resources/Community-Distributed-Generation-Project-Developers.pdf
102. SEIA State Solar Policy Fact Sheet: New York Solar. http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/new-york
103. New York Energy Research and Development Authority. Governor Cuomo, Joined by Vice President Gore,
Announces New Actions to Reduce Greehouse Gas Emissions and Lead Nation on Climate Change. http://www.
nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2015-Announcements/2015-10-08-Governor-Cuomo-VP-Gore-AnnounceActions-to-Reduce-Greenhouse-Gas
104. Utility Dive. NY regulators lift solar net metering caps until REV docket sets DER values. http://www.utilitydive.
com/news/ny-regulators-lift-solar-net-metering-caps-until-rev-docket-sets-der-values/407667/
105. Id.
106. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
107. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
108. Id.
109. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Pennsylvania, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.
dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/262
110. Id.
111. Utility Dive. Price of Pennsylvania renewable energy credits doubles. http://www.utilitydive.com/news/price-ofpennsylvania-renewable-energy-credits-doubles/370932/
112. SREC Trade. Pennsylvania. http://www.srectrade.com/srec_markets/pennsylvania
113. Meister Consultants Group and North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center. 50 States of Solar. https://
nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/50-States-of-Solar-Q3-FINAL_25.pdf
114. Utility Dive. PA regulators propose net metering cap at 200% of system owner’s demand. http://www.utilitydive.
com/news/pa-regulators-propose-net-metering-cap-at-200-of-system-owners-demand/400076/
115. Pittsburgh Business Times. Wolf seeks to restore funding for solar rebate program. http://www.bizjournals.com/
pittsburgh/blog/energy/2015/03/wolf-seeks-to-restore-funding-for-solar-rebate.html?page=2
116. The Wall Street Journal. Pennsylvania Governor to Approve Stopgap Budget After Using Line-Item Veto.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/pennsylvania-governor-to-approve-stopgap-budget-after-using-line-itemveto-1451416256
117. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. PUC Approves Lower Rate Increase than Requested by Penn Power, West
Penn Power, Met-Ed, and Penelec. http://www.puc.state.pa.us/about_puc/press_releases.aspx?ShowPR=3523
118. Philadelphia Inquirer (2015, September 12). PECO, PUC reach settlement on rate increase. http://articles.philly.
com/2015-09-12/business/66439042_1_puc-customer-pennsylvania-public-utility-commission
119. Meister Consultants Group and North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center. 50 States of Solar. https://
nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/50-States-of-Solar-Q3-FINAL_25.pdf
120. EIA year-to-date average price for all customers, Sept. 30, 2015
121. NREL, PV Watts Calculator. Retrieved January 25, 2016, from http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
122. Naval-Technology (2016, January 12). US Navy and Duke energy to build new solar facility in Indiana. Retrieved
January 12, 2016, from http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsus-navy-and-duke-energy-to-build-newsolar-facility-in-indiana-4774006
123. Gearino, D. (2015, April 19). Ohio installers say they’re forced to pursue business out of state because
of new energy law. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/
business/2015/04/19/01-solar-cloudy.html
124. Greene, J. (2015, May 15). Consumers Energy Gets OK to Add Michigan's First Community Solar Program.
Retrieved December 14, 2015, from http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150515/NEWS/150519887/
consumers-energy-gets-ok-toadd-michigans-first-community-solar
125. Vanhulle, L. (2015, September 11). Legislative debate continues on Michigan's solar industry and net metering.
Retrieved January 6, 2016, from http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150911/NEWS/150919954/
100.
legislative-debate-continues-on-michigans-solar-industry-and-net
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127. Freeing the Grid. Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Retrieved January
26, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/
128. Gearino, D. (2015, October 1). Kasich calls indefinite freeze of Ohio clean-energy standards ‘unacceptable’.
Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/09/30/oppositionclean-energy-standards-freeze.html
129. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. http://www.dsireusa.org/
130. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
131. ISEA. It’s a Bright Day for Solar!. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from http://www.illinoissolar.org/blog/3709388
132. Tomich, J. (2015, Jan 22). Boost for Illinois Solar Development. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from http://ilenviro.
org/illinois-solar-development/
133. ISEA. Illinois Solar Policy. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from http://www.illinoissolar.org/ILSolar-Policy
134. DSIRE NC Clean Energy Technology Center. City Water Light and Power - Solar Rewards Program. Retrieved
January 7, 2016, from http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/5097
135. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.
136. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
137. Hughes, D. (2015, December 23). Solar-panel arrays go live in Vigo, Clay counties. Retrieved January 10,
2016, from http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/solar-panel-arrays-go-live-in-vigo-clay-counties/
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138. Owoski, Z. (2015, September 20). Solar power to be activated soon in Pendleton. Retrieved January 10, 2016,
from http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/solar-power-to-be-activated-soon-in-pendleton/
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139. Naval-Technology (2016, January 12). US Navy and Duke energy to build new solar facility in Indiana. Retrieved
January 12, 2016, from http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsus-navy-and-duke-energy-to-build-newsolar-facility-in-indiana-4774006
140. McGowan, D. (2016, January 5). Solar Facility Running in Grant County. Retrieved January 12, 2016, from http://
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141. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
142. Id.
143. Greene, J. (2015, May 15). Consumers Energy Gets OK to Add Michigan's First Community Solar Program.
Retrieved December 14, 2015, from http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150515/NEWS/150519887/
consumers-energy-gets-ok-to-add-michigans-first-community-solar
144. Otte, C. (2015, December 4). Large solar dawns in Michigan, but residential incentives may sunset. Retrieved
December 14, 2015, from http://greatlakesecho.org/2015/12/04/large-solar-dawns-in-michigan-butresidential-incentives-may-sunset/
145. Vanhulle, L. (2015, September 11). Legislative debate continues on Michigan's solar industry and net metering.
Retrieved January 6, 2016, from http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150911/NEWS/150919954/
legislative-debate-continues-on-michigans-solar-industry-and-net
146. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
147. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.
148. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
149. SEIA State Solar Policy Fact Sheet: Ohio Solar. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.seia.org/state-solarpolicy/ohio
150. Gearino, D. (2015, April 19). Ohio installers say they’re forced to pursue business out of state because
of new energy law. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/
business/2015/04/19/01-solar-cloudy.html
126.
Gearino, D. (2015, October 1). Kasich calls indefinite freeze of Ohio clean-energy standards ‘unacceptable’.
Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/09/30/oppositionclean-energy-standards-freeze.html
152. Morris, C. (2015, December 20). Energy settlement could mean big solar boost in SE Ohio. Retrieved January 7,
2016, from http://www.athensnews.com/news/local/energy-settlement-could-mean-big-solar-boost-in-se-ohio/
article_b1c44ae2-a741-11e5-9f93-1f2a674866ec.html
153. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
154. Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. RPS Compliance. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from http://www.psc.
wi.gov/renewables/rpsCompliance.htm
155. SEIA. (2015). Solar Means Business 2015: Top U.S. Commercial Solar Users.
156. SEIA State Solar Policy Fact Sheet: Wisconsin Solar. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.seia.org/statesolar-policy/wisconsin
157. Lydersen, K. (2015, October 30). Court rejects Wisconsin utility’s fee on solar customers. Retrieved January 11,
2016, from http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2015/10/30/court-rejects-wisconsin-utilitys-fee-on-solarcustomers/
158. Quirmbach, C. (2015, September 18). Alliant Energy Project Near Beloit Helps Company Meet EPA Standards.
Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://wpr.org/wisconsin-utility-plans-solar-farm-where-it-once-dumped-coalash
159. PVSolarReport (2015, November 19). Community Solar Continues to Grow in Wisconsin. Retrieved January 13,
2016, from http://www.pvsolarreport.com/community-solar-wisconsin/
160. EIA year-to-date average price for all customers, Sept. 30, 2015
161. NREL (2012). Photovoltaic Solar Resource Map. http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/map_pv_us_annual10km_
dec2008.jpg
162. Ethanol Facilities’ Capacity by State (2015). State of Nebraska. http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/121.htm
163. McFarland, A. Twelve States Produced 80% of US Wind Power in 2013 (2014). https://www.eia.gov/
todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15851
164. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Missouri, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
org/system/program/detail/2622
165. Renewable Energy Objectives. Minn. Stat. §216B.1691.
166. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Kansas, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
org/system/program/detail/3401
167. Baer, N. Iowa Rises in Midwest Ranks (2015). http://www.iaenvironment.org/blog/iowa-environmental-voice/
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168. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
169. Freeing the Grid. Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Retrieved January
26, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/
170. SEIA (2015). Solar Spotlight: Iowa. http://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/IA%20State%20Fact%20
sheet_9.8.15.pdf
171. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015.
172. Baer, N. Iowa Rises in Midwest Ranks (2015). http://www.iaenvironment.org/blog/iowa-environmental-voice/
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173. Iowa Utilities Board. Iowa’s Electric Profile. https://iub.iowa.gov/electric-profile
174. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Iowa, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.org/
system/program/detail/488
175. Iowa Utilities Board. Order Opening Inquiry On Distributed Generation And Soliciting Comments (2014). http://
energystorage.org/system/files/resources/iub_noi_20140001_1_7_14.pdf
176. Midwestern Energy Issues Survey-Iowa Release (2014). http://iowaipl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014MidwesternEnergy-Issues-Survey-IOWA-RELEASE.pptx
151.
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178. Farrell, J. & Morris, D. “Energy Self-Reliant States” (2010), 2nd Edition, https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/files/
ESRS.pdf
179. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Kansas, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
org/system/program/detail/3401
180. Kansas Energy Division, Kansas Corporation Commission. Net Metering in Kansas. http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/
energy/net_metering.htm
181. Midwest Energy, Inc. Community Solar. https://www.mwenergy.com/environmental/renewable-energy/
community-solar
182. Pickerel, K. IKEA’s new Kansas store has state’s largest solar rooftop array. http://www.solarpowerworldonline.
com/2015/05/ikeas-new-kansas-store-has-states-largest-solar-rooftop-array/
183. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
184. Renewable Energy Objectives. Minn. Stat. §216B.1691.
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282. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
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287. The national average through October of 2015 was 10.49 cents per kw. U.S. Information Administration
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288. SEIA (2015, July 21). Solar Spotlight: West Virginia. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://www.seia.org/sites/
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289. Clean Energy Authority, West Virginia Net Metering. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://www.
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302. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
303. Id.
304. PR Newswire (2015, November 10). Strata Solar to Build Alabama Power’s First Utility-Scale Solar. Retrieved
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305. Alabama Public Service Commission. (2015, September 16). Docket No. 32382: PETITION: For a certificate
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306. Loller, T. (2015, February 12). TVA nears first large-scale solar buy. Retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://www.
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307. Cantin, J. (2016, January 13). Interview. Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association
308. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
309. Id.
310. Id.
311. LG&E KU (2015, October 9). LG&E and KU utility-scale solar facility expected to begin serving customers in late
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312. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
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314. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
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316. Mississippi Business Journal (2015, July 8). Seraphim Solar to build manufacturing facility in Jackson; says will
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317. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
318. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Detailed Summary Maps. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://
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319. Freeing the Grid. Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Retrieved January
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320. Id.
321. Id.
322. Id.
323. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
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Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
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324. Id.
325. SEIA (Data as of 2015, December 15). National Solar Database. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from http://www.seia.
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326. NREL, PV Watts Calculator. Retrieved January 28, 2016 from http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
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329. Pillion, D. (2015, December 24). With potential solar energy boom on the horizon, Alabama lags behind. Retrieved
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331. Tennessee Valley Authority (2015). Green Power Providers. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.tva.
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333. Eskind, A. (2015, December 2). TVA Slashing Rooftop Solar, Other Privately-Owned Solar. Retrieved January 4,
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334. Alabama Public Service Commission. (2016, September 16). Docket 32382: Alabama Power Company's
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335. PR Newswire (2015, November, 10). Strata Solar to Build Alabama Power’s First Utility-Scale Solar. Retrieved
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336. Loller, T. (2015, February 12). TVA nears first large-scale solar buy. Retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://www.
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337. Cantin, J. (2016, January 13). Interview. Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association
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Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
339. While EIA solar data continued to improve in 2015, sizeable gaps persist. Other data sources such as Solar Energy
Industries Association place Kentucky’s installed capacity at 8.5 MW. The Kentucky chapter of the America Solar
Energy Society estimates 10 MW of installed capacity. Military solar installations alone account for over 3 MW.
340. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia826/; U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015, October 21).
Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
341. SEIA (Data as of 2015, December 15). National Solar Database. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from http://www.seia.
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342. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Detailed Summary Maps. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from http://
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343. Kentucky Public Service Commission (2005, July 29). Electric Distribution Service Areas. Retrieved January 4,
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344. NC Clean Energy Technology Center & Meister Consultants Group (2015, April 29). The 50 States of Solar: Q1
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345. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Kentucky, Renewables Portfolio Standard. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
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346. Flessner, D. (2015, October 21). Study find [sic.] value of solar power less than what TVA pays. Retrieved January
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349. Eskind, A. (2015, December 2). TVA Slashing Rooftop Solar, Other Privately-Owned Solar. Retrieved January 4,
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350. In states with low solar market development, larger-scale project contracts tend to be won by out-of-state entities
in competitive bidding processes due to capacity and experience efficiencies. Smaller-scale projects such as
residential solar installations are more likely to be handled by local or state companies. Therefore, equal levels of
small and large-scale solar deployment are likely to have different employment effects at local and state levels.
351. Simpson, M. (2015, September 28). Solar array's first phase 'plugs in' to provide 1.9 megawatts of renewable
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352. LG&E KU (2015, October 9). LG&E and KU utility-scale solar facility expected to begin serving customers in late
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353. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
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355. SEIA (Data as of 2015, December 15). National Solar Database. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from http://www.seia.
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356. NREL (2012). Solar Prospector. Retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://maps.nrel.gov/prospector
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358. Mississippi Public Service Commission (2015, December). Docket No. 2011-AD-2 Order Adopting Net Metering
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359. Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. on behalf of Mississippi Public Service Commission (2014, September 19). Net
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360. Mississippi Public Service Commission (2015, December). Docket No. 2011-AD-2 Order Adopting Net Metering
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363. Tennessee Valley Authority (2015). Green Power Providers. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.tva.
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364. Flessner, D. (2015, 21 October). Study find [sic.] value of solar power less than what TVA pays. Retrieved on
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365. Eskind, A. (2015, December 2). TVA Slashing Rooftop Solar, Other Privately-Owned Solar. Retrieved January 4,
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366. In states with low solar market development, larger-scale project contracts tend to be won by out-of-state entities
in competitive bidding processes due to capacity and experience efficiencies. Smaller-scale projects such as
residential solar installations are more likely to be handled by local or state companies. Therefore, equal levels of
347.
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367. PR Newswire (2015, November 10). PSC approves Mississippi Power's utility-scale solar projects. Retrieved
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368. PR Newswire (2015, September 11). Seraphim Solar to open 300MW USA Manufacturing Operation. Retrieved
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370. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
371. Id.
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374. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Detailed Summary Maps. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from http://
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375. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, April 16). Tennessee: State Profile and Energy Estimates. Retrieved
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377. Tennessee Valley Authority (2015). Green Power Providers. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.tva.
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378. Id.
379. Flessner, D. (2015, 21 October). Study find [sic.] value of solar power less than what TVA pays. Retrieved on
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380. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
381. Pare, M. (2015, June 28). Wacker project making history, prepares for production startup. January 4, 2016, from
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382. EIA year-to-date average price for all customers, Sept. 30, 2015
383. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Photovoltaic Solar Resource of the United States Map. Retrieved
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384. U.S. Department of Energy (2015, November 11). Installed Wind Capacity. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from
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385. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
386. Gold, R. (2015, August 21). Next Texas Energy Boom: Solar. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://www.wsj.com/
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387. Wertz, J. (2015, July 30). Why Solar Energy is Growing Slowly in Oklahoma. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from
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388. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Net Metering. Retrieved January 8, 2016, from http://programs.
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389. Walton, R. (2015, December 23). Louisiana regulators set to wrestle with net metering in 2016. Retrieved
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390. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Tax Credit for Solar Energy Systems on Residential Property
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391. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Net Metering. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://programs.
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392. Brown, W. (2015, December 8). Large Solar Power Projects Put Arkansas On Energy Grid; Residential Generation
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395. Freeing the Grid. Arkansas. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/arkansas
396. Freeing the Grid. Louisiana. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/louisiana
397. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Renewable Portfolio Standard Policies. Retrieved January 27, 2016,
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398. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
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Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
399. SEIA State Solar Policy Fact Sheet: Arkansas Solar. Retrieved January 8, 2016, from http://www.seia.org/statesolar-policy/arkansas-solar
400. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
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401. Brown, W. (2015, December 8). Large solar power projects put Arkansas on energy grid; residential generation
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402. Arkansas House Bill 1004. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
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403. Id.
404. Id.
405. Id.
406. Sweeney, E. (2015, November 19). Arkansas’ First Community Solar Center Breaks Ground Nov. 20. Retrieved
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407. Brown, W. (2015, June 2). Construction to begin on solar power plant in Camden. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from
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408. Brown, W. (2015, December 8). Large Solar Power Projects Put Arkansas On Energy Grid; Residential Generation
Still Rare. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/large-solar-power-projects-putarkansas-energy-grid-residential-generation-still-rare#stream/0
409. Brown, W. (2015, April 15). Entergy Arkansas To Add State’s Largest Solar Power Plant To Grid By End Of Decade.
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410. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
411. Id.
412. Id.
413. Owens, C. (2015, July 7). Third-party solar ownership can energize the Southeast. Retrieved January 11, 2016,
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414. Roselund, C. (2015, November 27). Louisiana's largest utility puts the brakes on solar. Retrieved January 11,
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417. Walton, R. (2015, December 23). Louisiana regulators set to wrestle with net metering in 2016. Retrieved
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418. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. City of New Orleans - Net Metering. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from
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419. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Tax Credit for Solar Energy Systems on Residential Property
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420. Larino, J. (2015, August 3). Solar installers brace for impact as tax credit cap sets in. Retrieved January 9, 2016,
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421. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
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423. Id.
424. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
425. Wertz, J. (2015, July 30). Why Solar Energy is Growing Slowly in Oklahoma. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from
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426. RTT News (2015, December 9). Phoenix Solar To Build 19 Photovoltaic Power Plants In US; Stock Up. Retrieved
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427. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Net Metering. Retrieved January 8, 2016, from http://programs.
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428. Id.
429. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Renewable Energy Goal. Retrieved January 8, 2016, from http://
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430. Id.
431. NC Clean Energy Technology Center. DSIRE. 3rd Party Solar PV Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Map. Retrieved
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432. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
433. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
434. Id.
435. Id.
436. ERCOT (2015, December 14). Generator Interconnection Status Report: November 2015 Revised. Retrieved
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437. Gold, R. (2015, August 21). Next Texas Energy Boom: Solar. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://www.wsj.com/
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438. This includes solar projects both planned and/or under development.
439. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
440. Id.
441. NC Clean Energy Technology Center & Meister Consultants Group (2015, April 29). The 50 States of Solar: Q1
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442. Malewitz, J, & Lin, J. (2015, August 5). New law will help more Texans install solar power at home. Retrieved
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443. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Solar Rights. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://programs.
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444. Walton, R. (2015, September 16). Tesla battery storage tapped for Texas' first community solar project. Retrieved
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445. Lacey, S. (2015, June 30). Cheapest Solar Ever: Austin Energy Gets 1.2 Gigawatts of Solar Bids for Less Than 4
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446. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
447. Id.
448. Id.
449. EIA year-to-date average price for all customers, Sept. 30, 2015
450. John, J. S. (2016, January 8). Nevada’s Solar Job Exodus Continues, Driven by Retroactive Net Metering Cuts.
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452. Solar Energy Industry Today (2015, Decemeber 29). Navajo Nation "Goes Green" with New Solar Plant
453. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
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456. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
457. ASU Energy Policy Innovation Council, https://energypolicy.asu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/APS-NetMetering-Brief-Sheet-Draft-_-Final_updated-Dec-2013.pdf
458. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Arizona, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
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459. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Arizona, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
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460. JobsEQ 2015Q3
461. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
462. Solar Electric Power Association (2015, December). Community Solar Program Design Models
463. The Solar Gardens Institute. http://www.solargardens.org/
464. Colorado Energy Office. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/energyoffice/community-solar
465. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Colorado, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
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466. JobsEQ 2015Q3
467. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
468. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
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469. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Idaho Programs. http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/
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470. MagicValley.com (2015, January 14). Solar Power Gains Traction in Idaho.
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472. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Montana Programs. http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/
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473. SciGaia (2015). Montana’s RPS – 10 Years of Renewable Energy.
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476. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
477. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Nevada, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
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478. GTM Research (Dec. 23, 2015). Nevada Regulators Eliminate Retail Rate Net Metering for New and Existing Solar
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480. Id.
481. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Nevada, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
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482. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
483. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. New Mexico, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.
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484. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. New Mexicon, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.
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485. Solar Energy Industry Today (2015, Decemeber 29). Navajo Nation "Goes Green" with New Solar Plant
486. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
487. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Utah, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.org/
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488. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Utah, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.org/
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489. PacifiCorp. (2016, January). PacifiCorp Generation Interconnection Queue. Capacity values converted from
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Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
491. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Wyoming, Renewables Portfolio Standard. http://programs.dsireusa.
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492. Freeing the Grid. Wyoming. http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/wyoming
493. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
494. Richards, H. (2015, November 22). Solar Panels at UW Should Cut 50 Tons of Carbon Dioxide a Year. Billings
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495. American Wind Energy Association. U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. Retrieved January 25, 2016, from http://www.
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471.
from http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=HI
497. The Solar Foundation. Solar Resource Rank.
498. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
499. GreenTech Media (2015, June 26). Solar Star, Largest PV Power Plant in the World, Now Operational. Retrieved
January 16, 2016, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Solar-Star-Largest-PV-Power-Plant-inthe-World-Now-Operational
500. Breaking Energy (2015, June 17). Ivanpah Solar Production Up 170% in 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://breakingenergy.com/2015/06/17/ivanpah-solar-production-up-170-in-2015/
501. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
502. Governor of the State of Hawaii. PRESS RELEASE: Governor Ige signs bill setting 100 percent renewable energy
goal in power sector. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from http://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/press-releasegovernor-ige-signs-bill-setting-100-percent-renewable-energy-goal-in-power-sector/
503. GreenTech Media (2015, October 14). Media Hawaii Regulators Shut Down HECO’s Net Metering Program.
Retrieved January 22, 2016, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/hawaii-regulators-shutdownhecos-net-metering-program
504. Freeing the Grid. Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Retrieved January
26, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/
505. Id.
506. Id.
507. State of California Senate. California’s 2030 Climate Commitment: Renewable Resources for Half of the State’s
Electricity by 2030. Retrieved January 18, 2016, from http://www.energy.ca.gov/commission/fact_sheets/
documents/Fact_Sheet_-_50_Percent_Renewables.pdf
508. Id.
509. Id.
510. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia826/; U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015, October 21).
Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
511. SEIA State Solar Policy Fact Sheet: Alaska Solar. http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/alaska-solar
512. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2015, May 28). Form EIA-826 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016,
from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia826/; U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2015, October 21).
Form EIA-860 detailed data. Retrieved January 4, 2016, from https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/. NB:
Data accessed and converted by SEIA: MWdc = 1.2x MWac.
513. Id.
514. NREL (2012). Photovoltaic Solar Resource of the United States. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://www.
nrel.gov/gis/solar.html
515. Messina, P. Day and Night in Alaska. Retrieved January 14, 2016, from http://geosun.sjsu.edu/paula/103/
activities/daynight.pdf
516. Herzog, K. (2015, October 21). Remote Alaskan villages move from diesel to wind power. Retrieved January 13,
2016, from http://grist.org/article/remote-alaskan-villages-move-from-diesel-to-wind-power/
517. Kaften, C. (2015, October 7). New Rankings: Electric Rates Are Highest in Hawaii, Lowest in Washington State.
Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://www.energymanagertoday.com/new-rankings-electric-rates-highesthawaii-lowest-washington-state-0116550/
518. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Renewable Portfolio Standard Policies Map. Retrieved January 13,
2016, from http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Renewable-PortfolioStandards.pdf
519. NC Clean Energy Technology Center. DSIRE. 3rd Party Solar PV Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Map. Retrieved
January 13, 2016, from http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/3rd-PartyPPA_072015.pdf
DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Net Metering. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://programs.
dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/3734
521. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Local Option - Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy
Systems. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/4449
522. Waldholz, R. (2015, November 25). New rules may help small energy projects sell to the grid. Retrieved January
13, 2016, from http://www.alaskapublic.org/2015/11/25/new-rules-could-boost-renewable-power/
523. Id.
524. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015.
525. Id.
526. The Solar Foundation (2015). California Solar Jobs Census.
527. GreenTech Media (2015, June 26). Solar Star, Largest PV Power Plant in the World, Now Operational. Retrieved
January 16, 2016, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Solar-Star-Largest-PV-Power-Plant-inthe-World-Now-Operational
528. CleanTechnica (2015, June 26). Largest Solar Plant On Planet Earth — Solar Star — Comes Online. Retrieved from
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/06/26/largest-solar-plant-planet-earth-solar-star-comes-online/
529. Id.
530. State of California Senate. California Climate Leadership: Powering the New Economy. Retrieved January 18, 2016,
from http://focus.senate.ca.gov/climate/sb350-facts
531. State of California Senate. California’s 2030 Climate Commitment: Renewable Resources for Half of the State’s
Electricity by 2030. Retrieved January 18, 2016, from http://www.energy.ca.gov/commission/fact_sheets/
documents/Fact_Sheet_-_50_Percent_Renewables.pdf
532. State of California Senate. California Climate Leadership: Powering the New Economy. Retrieved January 17, 2016,
from http://focus.senate.ca.gov/climate/sb350-facts
533. St. John, J. (2016, January 28). Breaking: California’s NEM 2.0 Decision Keeps Retail Rate for Rooftop Solar, Adds
Time-of-Use. Retrieved January 30, 2016 from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Californias-NetMetering-2.0-Decision-Rooftop-Solar-to-Keep-Retail-Payme
534. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.
535. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
536. Governor of the State of Hawaii. PRESS RELEASE: Governor Ige signs bill setting 100 percent renewable energy
goal in power sector. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from http://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/press-releasegovernor-ige-signs-bill-setting-100-percent-renewable-energy-goal-in-power-sector/
537. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Hawaii State Profile and Energy Estimates. Retrieved January 17, 2016,
from http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=HI
538. Cardwell, D. (2015, April 18). Solar Power Battle Puts Hawaii at Forefront of Worldwide Changes. Retrieved
January 17, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/business/energy-environment/solar-powerbattle-puts-hawaii-at-forefront-of-worldwide-changes.html?_r=0
539. Ramadna, B. (2015, June 29). HECO proposes new PV pricing structure to ensure ‘safety and fairness’. Retrieved
January 19, 2016, from http://khon2.com/2015/06/29/heco-proposes-new-pv-pricing-structure-to-ensuresafety-and-fairness/
540. Rocky Mountain Institute (2015, October 16). Hawaii just ended net metering for solar. Now what? Retrieved
January 17, 2016, from http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2015_10_16_hawaii_just_ended_net_metering_for_solar_now_
what
541. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.
542. Utility Dive. (2015, August 5). Rushing to bring solar online, Hawaii approves 4 utility scale projects. Retrieved
January 17, from http://www.utilitydive.com/news/rushing-to-bring-solar-online-hawaii-approves-4-utilityscale-projects/403468/
543. Trabish, H. (2015, July 20). HECO launches community solar pilot project. Retrieve January 19, 2016, from http://
www.utilitydive.com/news/heco-launches-community-solar-pilot-project/402499/
520.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
Id.
546. Barbose, G. & Darghouth, N. (August 2015). Tracking the Sun VIII: The Installed Price of Residential and NonResidential Photovoltaic Systems in the United States (p. 53). Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory.
547. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Oregon, Renewables Portfolio Standard. Retrieved January 18, 2016,
from http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/2594
548. Id.
549. Freeing the Grid. Oregon. Retrieved January 20, 2016 from http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/oregon
550. Barbose, G. & Darghouth, N. (August 2015). Tracking the Sun VIII: The Installed Price of Residential and NonResidential Photovoltaic Systems in the United States (p. 53). Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory.
551. Inskeep, B. & Wright, K. (2015). The 50 States of Solar: A Quarterly Look at America’s Fast-evolving Distributed
Solar Policy Conversation, Q3 2015. The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center & Meister Consultants
Group. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from https://nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/50-States-of-SolarQ3-FINAL_25.pdf
552. Oregon Convention Center. Sustainability: Your first choice for green meetings and conventions. Retrieved January
16, 2016, from https://www.oregoncc.org/about/sustainability
553. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.
554. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
555. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Energy and Environment Guide to Action, Chapter 5: Renewable
Portfolio Standards. Retrieved January 18, 2016, from http://www3.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/
guide_action_chapter5.pdf
556. Freeing the Grid. Washington. Retrieved January 20, 2016 from http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/
washington
557. DSIRE, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Residential Solar Permit Requirements. Retrieved January 20, 2016
from http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/5646
558. Utility Dive (2015, July 30). Washington Gov. Inslee issues executive directive to cap carbon emissions. Retrieved
January 18, 2016, from http://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-gov-inslee-issues-executive-directive-tocap-carbon-emissions/403144/
544.
545.
Photo Credit: Direct Energy Solar
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and BW Research Partnership. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials in this report, including reproduction, modification, distribution, or
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As a complement to this Compendium, state specific reports were
completed for 14 states, including:
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•
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Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
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•
•
New Jersey
New York
New Mexico
North Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont
These reports can be found at www.TSFcensus.org or on
The Solar Foundation’s new interactive SolarStates.org microsite.
The full methodology can be found in the Appendix
of the National Solar Jobs Census 2015 report:
www.TSFcensus.org.
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