The document summarizes a report on solar jobs in Minnesota in 2013-2014. It found that:
1) The solar industry in Minnesota employs 864 workers, a 73% increase since 2012, and employers expect to add around 250 jobs (28% growth) by late 2014.
2) Most Minnesota solar establishments are involved in installation (56%) and sales/trade (16%), though manufacturing accounts for 14% of solar jobs.
3) The industry focuses on photovoltaics (81%) and water heating (41%), consistent with national trends.
Solar employment in North Carolina grew from 3,100 in 2013 to 5,600 in 2014, adding over 200 jobs per month between November 2013 and November 2014. At over 80 percent year-over-year growth, the North Carolina solar industry grew nearly 40 times faster than overall employment in the state.
The U.S. solar industry currently employs nearly 174,000 workers across all 50 states, a growth of 86% over the past 5 years. Solar jobs are being created 20 times faster than the overall economy. In 2014, solar companies expect to add 36,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 20.9%. However, the scheduled reduction of the federal investment tax credit from 30% to 10% for commercial projects poses a threat to future job growth and may cause layoffs, especially in the solar installation sector which employs the most workers.
The Solar Foundation's National Solar Jobs Census 2014 found that the U.S. solar industry employs 173,807 workers, a growth of 21.8% since 2013. Solar employment grew nearly 20 times faster than the overall economy and accounted for 1.3% of new U.S. jobs over the past year. The installation sector remains the largest, more than doubling in size since 2010. If growth continues, the Census predicts 210,060 solar workers within a year, driven by increasing demand before tax credits expire in 2017.
For the first time, the significant contributions of military veterans to the solar industry have been documented in a joint report from The Solar Foundation and Operation Free, Veterans in Solar: Securing America’s Energy Future. The brief report shows that the U.S. solar industry employs 13,192 veterans of the armed forces, a figure which represents 9.2% of all solar workers in the nation, exceeding the percentage of veteran employment in the overall economy. Importantly, the report also explores the challenges of connecting highly-skilled military veterans with positions in the solar industry that match their abilities. Read the report for more details and future steps to expand opportunities for veterans in solar energy, and visit VetsinSolar.org for future updates.
The document summarizes a report on solar jobs in California in 2013. It finds that California had 47,223 solar workers as of November 2013, concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. Solar employers in California expect to add 10,500 new solar jobs, a growth rate of 22.3%, by November 2014. California has been a leader in solar energy and jobs due to its renewable energy policies like renewable portfolio standards and solar rebate programs, which have led to over 10,000 MW of installed solar capacity, over 40% of the US total.
The solar industry in Arizona saw significant job losses in 2013, declining by over 1,200 workers and 12.7% from the previous year. This is attributed to the completion of large solar projects that drove hiring in prior years. While total solar capacity installed was similar year-over-year, the residential market segment grew more slowly at 13% compared to nearly 94% the prior year. Over a third of Arizona solar employers expect to add jobs in the coming year, but overall employment is projected to grow by only 475 jobs or 5.6% with continued policy uncertainty in the state. The solar workforce in Arizona currently stands at 8,558 workers, down from 9,800 in 2012, with the vast majority employed in installation
The U.S. solar industry added over 31,000 jobs in 2014, a growth rate of 21.8% which was 20 times faster than the overall economy's growth rate of 1.1%. Solar jobs are projected to grow by 20.9% in 2015, 8 times greater than projected growth in oil, gas, and coal industries combined. One out of every 78 new jobs created in 2014 was from the solar industry.
This document explores sustainable funding models for solar workforce training programs as public funding decreases. It notes rapid growth in the solar industry and jobs, but limited and declining public funding for associated training. It proposes three new funding concepts: 1) Public-private partnerships to jointly fund training; 2) Revolving loan funds for trainees that are repaid after employment; and 3) Crowdsourcing training funding from industry. The document aims to facilitate a transition from public to private funding that maximizes efficient allocation of funds to training providers.
Solar employment in North Carolina grew from 3,100 in 2013 to 5,600 in 2014, adding over 200 jobs per month between November 2013 and November 2014. At over 80 percent year-over-year growth, the North Carolina solar industry grew nearly 40 times faster than overall employment in the state.
The U.S. solar industry currently employs nearly 174,000 workers across all 50 states, a growth of 86% over the past 5 years. Solar jobs are being created 20 times faster than the overall economy. In 2014, solar companies expect to add 36,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 20.9%. However, the scheduled reduction of the federal investment tax credit from 30% to 10% for commercial projects poses a threat to future job growth and may cause layoffs, especially in the solar installation sector which employs the most workers.
The Solar Foundation's National Solar Jobs Census 2014 found that the U.S. solar industry employs 173,807 workers, a growth of 21.8% since 2013. Solar employment grew nearly 20 times faster than the overall economy and accounted for 1.3% of new U.S. jobs over the past year. The installation sector remains the largest, more than doubling in size since 2010. If growth continues, the Census predicts 210,060 solar workers within a year, driven by increasing demand before tax credits expire in 2017.
For the first time, the significant contributions of military veterans to the solar industry have been documented in a joint report from The Solar Foundation and Operation Free, Veterans in Solar: Securing America’s Energy Future. The brief report shows that the U.S. solar industry employs 13,192 veterans of the armed forces, a figure which represents 9.2% of all solar workers in the nation, exceeding the percentage of veteran employment in the overall economy. Importantly, the report also explores the challenges of connecting highly-skilled military veterans with positions in the solar industry that match their abilities. Read the report for more details and future steps to expand opportunities for veterans in solar energy, and visit VetsinSolar.org for future updates.
The document summarizes a report on solar jobs in California in 2013. It finds that California had 47,223 solar workers as of November 2013, concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. Solar employers in California expect to add 10,500 new solar jobs, a growth rate of 22.3%, by November 2014. California has been a leader in solar energy and jobs due to its renewable energy policies like renewable portfolio standards and solar rebate programs, which have led to over 10,000 MW of installed solar capacity, over 40% of the US total.
The solar industry in Arizona saw significant job losses in 2013, declining by over 1,200 workers and 12.7% from the previous year. This is attributed to the completion of large solar projects that drove hiring in prior years. While total solar capacity installed was similar year-over-year, the residential market segment grew more slowly at 13% compared to nearly 94% the prior year. Over a third of Arizona solar employers expect to add jobs in the coming year, but overall employment is projected to grow by only 475 jobs or 5.6% with continued policy uncertainty in the state. The solar workforce in Arizona currently stands at 8,558 workers, down from 9,800 in 2012, with the vast majority employed in installation
The U.S. solar industry added over 31,000 jobs in 2014, a growth rate of 21.8% which was 20 times faster than the overall economy's growth rate of 1.1%. Solar jobs are projected to grow by 20.9% in 2015, 8 times greater than projected growth in oil, gas, and coal industries combined. One out of every 78 new jobs created in 2014 was from the solar industry.
This document explores sustainable funding models for solar workforce training programs as public funding decreases. It notes rapid growth in the solar industry and jobs, but limited and declining public funding for associated training. It proposes three new funding concepts: 1) Public-private partnerships to jointly fund training; 2) Revolving loan funds for trainees that are repaid after employment; and 3) Crowdsourcing training funding from industry. The document aims to facilitate a transition from public to private funding that maximizes efficient allocation of funds to training providers.
This document summarizes the state of the solar industry in Arizona in 2015. It finds that while the US solar industry grew 20.2% in 2015, adding over 35,000 jobs, Arizona saw a 24.5% reduction in solar jobs. Solar capacity additions in Arizona have stagnated since 2012, installing just 141 MW in 2015, less than neighboring Nevada. Utility-scale solar makes up most new capacity but the residential and commercial markets have struggled due to policy changes reducing the economics of rooftop solar.
This document summarizes a Google Hangout session on green jobs and the energy transition to sustainable development. The session included three presenters: Janine Finnell reviewed recent US studies and data on green jobs; Silvia Leahu-Aluas provided examples of green job successes in Midwest states like Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana; and Adriaan Kamp discussed international perspectives on green jobs and their relationship to energy transition, sustainable development, and economic growth. The discussion touched on topics like the challenges of climate change and employment, definitions of green jobs, US and international data sources, and examples of renewable energy job growth and economic development in the Midwest region.
The GW Solar Institute, a research partner on the National Solar Jobs Census 2014, joined The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership in announcing that the solar energy industry added over 31,000 new jobs in 2014. This remarkable growth rate is almost twenty times the national average and accounts for 1 out every 78 new jobs created in the US since Solar Jobs Census 2013.
The document provides an analysis of solar employment in California in 2013. It finds that California had 47,223 solar workers employed across the state, with most concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. California solar employers expect to add 10,500 new jobs, a growth rate of 22.3% by November 2014. The success of California's solar industry is driven by its leadership in solar energy installation, with over 40% of the nation's total solar capacity. Strong state policies like renewable portfolio standards and solar rebate programs have supported the growth of the solar industry and job creation in California.
The document discusses solar energy trends in Arizona since 2009. It notes that while US solar development has grown significantly since 2009, Arizona's growth has slowed recently. It also discusses the challenges of integrating utility and non-utility solar providers as the electricity market changes rapidly due to technological advances. Finally, it calls for continued investment and partnerships to rapidly deploy renewable energy in Southern Arizona.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2010 found that as of August 2010:
- The U.S. solar industry employs approximately 93,000 solar workers nationwide.
- Over the next 12 months, solar companies expect to add nearly 24,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 26%.
- Half of solar firms anticipate increasing their workforce over the coming year, while only 2% expect reductions.
This document provides an overview of solar industry jobs in the Greater Los Angeles region, focusing on three primary job tracks: construction, design, and sales & marketing. It describes typical duties, qualifications, and salaries for various entry-level to mid-level roles within each track, such as junior solar installer, site assessor, PV system designer, and sales consultant. The document also includes statistics on solar job growth and wages to provide context on the expanding industry opportunities.
The U.S. solar industry employs an estimated 100,237 solar workers as of August 2011, up 6.8% from August 2010. Nearly half of solar firms expect to add jobs over the next 12 months, anticipating growth of around 24,000 new jobs and a 24% increase. Solar job growth significantly outpaces overall national employment growth. Installation, manufacturing, sales and distribution, and utility firms all anticipate substantial employment gains in the coming year.
The document summarizes the key findings of IRENA's 2019 report on renewable energy jobs. It finds that:
- The global renewable energy sector employed approximately 11 million people in 2018, up slightly from 10.3 million in 2017.
- China, Brazil, the US, India, and EU countries lead in renewable energy jobs. Asian countries account for 60% of the total.
- The solar PV industry remains the largest employer with around 3.6 million jobs globally. Biofuel and wind power industries each support over 1 million jobs. Hydropower employs around 2.1 million people directly.
- Factors shaping where renewable energy jobs are created include national policies, supply chain diversification,
The GW Solar Institute at George Washington University identifies and shares solutions to policy barriers preventing solar energy adoption. It provides policymakers with strategic analysis on complex solar issues. The Institute is led by Amit Ronen and engages stakeholders through events, education and serving as a public information resource. It focuses research on issues like solar legislation, low-income solar access, and the utility industry transition facilitated by distributed generation.
Andrea Luecke | Tracking Solar Jobs, Solar Jobs Census BriefingGW Solar Institute
The document summarizes the findings of The Solar Foundation's State Solar Jobs Census. It found that the U.S. solar industry employed over 142,000 workers in 2013, a 20% increase from 2012. California employs the most solar workers of any state at over 47,000, representing over 40% of total U.S. solar capacity and 1/3 of national solar employment. The census tracks employment trends in solar installation, manufacturing, project development, sales and distribution across all 50 states.
The document is a report analyzing the solar workforce in Minnesota in 2013. It finds that Minnesota had 864 solar workers in 2013 and has steadily increased its solar capacity over the past decade to 16.2 megawatts currently. Recent policy changes in Minnesota, including a solar electricity standard requiring utilities to source 1.5% of retail sales from solar by 2020, are expected to drive rapid growth in the state's solar market and significant increases in solar jobs over the next several years. The report provides a baseline of current solar employment to measure this expected future growth.
Dal mgmt1702 ecosystem goods and services presentation 21 janaury 2016Gord Helm
The document discusses integrated waste management systems and their role in addressing the growing global waste problem. It notes that currently 70% of municipal solid waste goes to landfills, but that waste-to-energy technologies can divert this waste to generate renewable energy instead. Integrated waste management systems that utilize waste separation and waste-to-energy technologies like plasma gasification can significantly reduce environmental impacts from waste by eliminating landfill gas emissions, producing renewable energy, and generating reusable materials. Such systems provide an opportunity for climate change mitigation, renewable energy production, and economic development.
This document provides a summary of the 2012 National Solar Jobs Census conducted by The Solar Foundation. Some key findings include:
- As of September 2012, the U.S. solar industry employed 119,016 workers, a 13.2% increase from 2011.
- Installation jobs increased the most over the past year, offsetting declines in manufacturing. Larger installation firms saw more dramatic growth.
- The solar industry is expected to grow employment by 17.2% (around 20,000 new jobs) in the next 12 months.
- Nearly all solar industry subsectors expect double-digit percentage job growth in the coming year. Installation firms anticipate adding around 12,000 new jobs, a 21% increase
Global renewable energy employment increased to 8.1 million jobs in 2015, up 5% from 2014. Solar PV was the largest employer with 2.8 million jobs, an 11% increase, followed by liquid biofuels at 1.7 million jobs (down 6% due to mechanization). Wind power employment rose 5% to reach 1.1 million jobs on record installations in China, the US, and Germany. Asia accounted for 60% of renewable energy jobs as markets and manufacturing continued shifting to the region, led by China as the largest employer across many technologies.
SolarCity is an American solar energy company that is the largest residential solar installation provider in the US. It was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in California, employing over 9,000 people. SolarCity offers solar panel installation to residential, commercial, and government customers, with the goal of helping reduce energy costs and carbon footprints. It plans to expand internationally, including into South Africa, in order to continue growing its market share and increasing the value of the company.
SolarPower Europe’s annual award-winning Global Market Outlook for Solar Power is the most authoritative market analysis report for the global solar power sector. With comprehensive historical market data, 5-year forecasts for the main global markets, as well as an analysis of the segmentation between rooftop and ground-mounted systems, this report is an indispensable tool for the solar industry and energy stakeholders alike. This edition has a special focus on the GW-scale solar power markets in 2018 around the globe. In 2018, 11 countries installed more than 1 GW of solar; two more compared to the nine GW-scale solar markets in 2017.
Oregon successfully attracted two solar manufacturers, SolarWorld and Solaicx, by highlighting available infrastructure like a mothballed semiconductor plant, a skilled workforce from its history in the semiconductor industry, and state incentives like tax credits. Other states like Massachusetts, Washington, and others are also actively recruiting solar manufacturers by offering tax incentives and policies to grow local solar markets and support in-state solar component manufacturing. Solar companies consider factors like available workforce, infrastructure for transportation and supplies, and market access when choosing production locations.
This document summarizes arguments against wind energy, including:
1) Wind energy relies heavily on government subsidies and does not make economic sense without them.
2) For every "green job" created by wind energy, several jobs are lost elsewhere in the economy due to higher energy costs.
3) Models used to predict job creation from wind overestimate jobs and fail to account for job losses in other sectors.
A method to integrate science/technology, marketing and trends in the process of product and concept development.
An integrative thinking process for product development in cosmetics and skin care, but also any technology based product. Also a new way of working, bringing together three fundamentally different department, yet essential to a healthy product and concept development process. Keys to communicate better, work better, produce better, sell better.
We marry science and technology with culture and society. We integrate epistemology in the concept development process, rendering both science and marketing thoughtful and smart.
This document provides data on solar jobs by state in 2013, ranking the top ten states for solar jobs. California had the most solar jobs with over 18,000, followed by Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas, and Colorado which each had between 7,500-10,000 solar jobs. The majority of states had between 1,000-4,999 solar jobs, while a few had under 500 solar jobs in 2013 according to the data.
This document summarizes the state of the solar industry in Arizona in 2015. It finds that while the US solar industry grew 20.2% in 2015, adding over 35,000 jobs, Arizona saw a 24.5% reduction in solar jobs. Solar capacity additions in Arizona have stagnated since 2012, installing just 141 MW in 2015, less than neighboring Nevada. Utility-scale solar makes up most new capacity but the residential and commercial markets have struggled due to policy changes reducing the economics of rooftop solar.
This document summarizes a Google Hangout session on green jobs and the energy transition to sustainable development. The session included three presenters: Janine Finnell reviewed recent US studies and data on green jobs; Silvia Leahu-Aluas provided examples of green job successes in Midwest states like Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana; and Adriaan Kamp discussed international perspectives on green jobs and their relationship to energy transition, sustainable development, and economic growth. The discussion touched on topics like the challenges of climate change and employment, definitions of green jobs, US and international data sources, and examples of renewable energy job growth and economic development in the Midwest region.
The GW Solar Institute, a research partner on the National Solar Jobs Census 2014, joined The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership in announcing that the solar energy industry added over 31,000 new jobs in 2014. This remarkable growth rate is almost twenty times the national average and accounts for 1 out every 78 new jobs created in the US since Solar Jobs Census 2013.
The document provides an analysis of solar employment in California in 2013. It finds that California had 47,223 solar workers employed across the state, with most concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. California solar employers expect to add 10,500 new jobs, a growth rate of 22.3% by November 2014. The success of California's solar industry is driven by its leadership in solar energy installation, with over 40% of the nation's total solar capacity. Strong state policies like renewable portfolio standards and solar rebate programs have supported the growth of the solar industry and job creation in California.
The document discusses solar energy trends in Arizona since 2009. It notes that while US solar development has grown significantly since 2009, Arizona's growth has slowed recently. It also discusses the challenges of integrating utility and non-utility solar providers as the electricity market changes rapidly due to technological advances. Finally, it calls for continued investment and partnerships to rapidly deploy renewable energy in Southern Arizona.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2010 found that as of August 2010:
- The U.S. solar industry employs approximately 93,000 solar workers nationwide.
- Over the next 12 months, solar companies expect to add nearly 24,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 26%.
- Half of solar firms anticipate increasing their workforce over the coming year, while only 2% expect reductions.
This document provides an overview of solar industry jobs in the Greater Los Angeles region, focusing on three primary job tracks: construction, design, and sales & marketing. It describes typical duties, qualifications, and salaries for various entry-level to mid-level roles within each track, such as junior solar installer, site assessor, PV system designer, and sales consultant. The document also includes statistics on solar job growth and wages to provide context on the expanding industry opportunities.
The U.S. solar industry employs an estimated 100,237 solar workers as of August 2011, up 6.8% from August 2010. Nearly half of solar firms expect to add jobs over the next 12 months, anticipating growth of around 24,000 new jobs and a 24% increase. Solar job growth significantly outpaces overall national employment growth. Installation, manufacturing, sales and distribution, and utility firms all anticipate substantial employment gains in the coming year.
The document summarizes the key findings of IRENA's 2019 report on renewable energy jobs. It finds that:
- The global renewable energy sector employed approximately 11 million people in 2018, up slightly from 10.3 million in 2017.
- China, Brazil, the US, India, and EU countries lead in renewable energy jobs. Asian countries account for 60% of the total.
- The solar PV industry remains the largest employer with around 3.6 million jobs globally. Biofuel and wind power industries each support over 1 million jobs. Hydropower employs around 2.1 million people directly.
- Factors shaping where renewable energy jobs are created include national policies, supply chain diversification,
The GW Solar Institute at George Washington University identifies and shares solutions to policy barriers preventing solar energy adoption. It provides policymakers with strategic analysis on complex solar issues. The Institute is led by Amit Ronen and engages stakeholders through events, education and serving as a public information resource. It focuses research on issues like solar legislation, low-income solar access, and the utility industry transition facilitated by distributed generation.
Andrea Luecke | Tracking Solar Jobs, Solar Jobs Census BriefingGW Solar Institute
The document summarizes the findings of The Solar Foundation's State Solar Jobs Census. It found that the U.S. solar industry employed over 142,000 workers in 2013, a 20% increase from 2012. California employs the most solar workers of any state at over 47,000, representing over 40% of total U.S. solar capacity and 1/3 of national solar employment. The census tracks employment trends in solar installation, manufacturing, project development, sales and distribution across all 50 states.
The document is a report analyzing the solar workforce in Minnesota in 2013. It finds that Minnesota had 864 solar workers in 2013 and has steadily increased its solar capacity over the past decade to 16.2 megawatts currently. Recent policy changes in Minnesota, including a solar electricity standard requiring utilities to source 1.5% of retail sales from solar by 2020, are expected to drive rapid growth in the state's solar market and significant increases in solar jobs over the next several years. The report provides a baseline of current solar employment to measure this expected future growth.
Dal mgmt1702 ecosystem goods and services presentation 21 janaury 2016Gord Helm
The document discusses integrated waste management systems and their role in addressing the growing global waste problem. It notes that currently 70% of municipal solid waste goes to landfills, but that waste-to-energy technologies can divert this waste to generate renewable energy instead. Integrated waste management systems that utilize waste separation and waste-to-energy technologies like plasma gasification can significantly reduce environmental impacts from waste by eliminating landfill gas emissions, producing renewable energy, and generating reusable materials. Such systems provide an opportunity for climate change mitigation, renewable energy production, and economic development.
This document provides a summary of the 2012 National Solar Jobs Census conducted by The Solar Foundation. Some key findings include:
- As of September 2012, the U.S. solar industry employed 119,016 workers, a 13.2% increase from 2011.
- Installation jobs increased the most over the past year, offsetting declines in manufacturing. Larger installation firms saw more dramatic growth.
- The solar industry is expected to grow employment by 17.2% (around 20,000 new jobs) in the next 12 months.
- Nearly all solar industry subsectors expect double-digit percentage job growth in the coming year. Installation firms anticipate adding around 12,000 new jobs, a 21% increase
Global renewable energy employment increased to 8.1 million jobs in 2015, up 5% from 2014. Solar PV was the largest employer with 2.8 million jobs, an 11% increase, followed by liquid biofuels at 1.7 million jobs (down 6% due to mechanization). Wind power employment rose 5% to reach 1.1 million jobs on record installations in China, the US, and Germany. Asia accounted for 60% of renewable energy jobs as markets and manufacturing continued shifting to the region, led by China as the largest employer across many technologies.
SolarCity is an American solar energy company that is the largest residential solar installation provider in the US. It was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in California, employing over 9,000 people. SolarCity offers solar panel installation to residential, commercial, and government customers, with the goal of helping reduce energy costs and carbon footprints. It plans to expand internationally, including into South Africa, in order to continue growing its market share and increasing the value of the company.
SolarPower Europe’s annual award-winning Global Market Outlook for Solar Power is the most authoritative market analysis report for the global solar power sector. With comprehensive historical market data, 5-year forecasts for the main global markets, as well as an analysis of the segmentation between rooftop and ground-mounted systems, this report is an indispensable tool for the solar industry and energy stakeholders alike. This edition has a special focus on the GW-scale solar power markets in 2018 around the globe. In 2018, 11 countries installed more than 1 GW of solar; two more compared to the nine GW-scale solar markets in 2017.
Oregon successfully attracted two solar manufacturers, SolarWorld and Solaicx, by highlighting available infrastructure like a mothballed semiconductor plant, a skilled workforce from its history in the semiconductor industry, and state incentives like tax credits. Other states like Massachusetts, Washington, and others are also actively recruiting solar manufacturers by offering tax incentives and policies to grow local solar markets and support in-state solar component manufacturing. Solar companies consider factors like available workforce, infrastructure for transportation and supplies, and market access when choosing production locations.
This document summarizes arguments against wind energy, including:
1) Wind energy relies heavily on government subsidies and does not make economic sense without them.
2) For every "green job" created by wind energy, several jobs are lost elsewhere in the economy due to higher energy costs.
3) Models used to predict job creation from wind overestimate jobs and fail to account for job losses in other sectors.
A method to integrate science/technology, marketing and trends in the process of product and concept development.
An integrative thinking process for product development in cosmetics and skin care, but also any technology based product. Also a new way of working, bringing together three fundamentally different department, yet essential to a healthy product and concept development process. Keys to communicate better, work better, produce better, sell better.
We marry science and technology with culture and society. We integrate epistemology in the concept development process, rendering both science and marketing thoughtful and smart.
This document provides data on solar jobs by state in 2013, ranking the top ten states for solar jobs. California had the most solar jobs with over 18,000, followed by Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas, and Colorado which each had between 7,500-10,000 solar jobs. The majority of states had between 1,000-4,999 solar jobs, while a few had under 500 solar jobs in 2013 according to the data.
Official Document of the Solar Power Policy of Andhra Pradesh 2015.
This document is not a work of Headway Solar (http://headwaysolar.com/) and it has been released here for the benefit of the general public.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2012 report found that as of September 2012, the U.S. solar industry employed 119,016 workers, a 13.2% increase from the previous year. Solar employment is projected to grow an additional 17.2% over the next 12 months. Installation firms have added the most jobs over the past year and expect to add nearly 12,000 new jobs in the coming year. Nearly half of solar firms expect to add jobs in the next year, while less than 4% expect cuts. The solar industry continues to outpace overall U.S. employment growth and remains optimistic about future expansion despite economic and policy uncertainties.
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive function. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
Solar panels offer cost effective energy utilisation option. The various steps involved in installing solar panels are selecting a solar roof or a solar rack, getting the proper permission, selecting the right location of the sun, etc. All these steps have been discussed briefly for the benefit of interested people.
Official Document of the Manipur solar policy 2014.
This document is not a work of Headway Solar (http://headwaysolar.com/) and it has been released here for the benefit of the general public.
The solar industry currently employs over 142,000 workers in the United States, a nearly 20% growth over the previous year. California leads the country with over 47,000 solar jobs, though jobs are growing rapidly in many other states as well. While California, Arizona, New Jersey, and Massachusetts make up around half of total solar employment, jobs exist in all 50 states and 18 states more than doubled their solar jobs in 2013.
Official Document of the Karnataka solar policy 2014-2021 released by the Government of Karnataka.
This document is not a work of Headway Solar (http://headwaysolar.com/) and it has been released here for the benefit of the general public.
Official Jharkhand solar power policy 2013 Document.
This document is not a work of Headway Solar (http://headwaysolar.com/) and it has been released here for the benefit of the general public.
The photovoltaic effect was first recognized in 1839, but the first photovoltaic cell was not constructed until 1883. In 1888, the first photoelectric cell based on the photoelectric effect was built, and in 1954 Bell Labs developed the first modern solar cell. Spatial solar power involves converting solar power acquired in space into other usable forms of energy that can be used in space or transmitted to Earth, utilizing photovoltaic panels on satellites since the 20th century. Photovoltaic modules can produce electricity from a range of light frequencies but not the entire solar spectrum, so another design concept splits light into wavelength ranges and directs each to a tuned cell to potentially raise efficiency by 50%.
The U.S. solar industry continued growing in 2012 despite economic challenges, creating over 13,000 new jobs - 86% of which were new positions. The solar industry's growth rate of 13.2% significantly outpaced the overall economy's rate of 2.3%. Installation jobs grew the most, offsetting declines in manufacturing. The solar industry remains optimistic about continued growth, expecting to add over 45,000 new jobs in the next year.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (“RFP”) FOR CRM MODERNIZATION SOFTWARE AND IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES.
The City of Chicago ("City"), acting through its Department of Innovation and Technology ("DoIT"), is pleased to invite the submission of proposals for the modernization of the City's Constituent Relationship Management ("CRM") system and processes to not only replace the City's current technology, but to provide a holistic, transformative solution to help the City of Chicago provide world-class resident relationship management services. The City sees the new CRM solution as the platform for this vision. However, this is strictly a tool. The Selected Respondent must deliver a comprehensive solution that empowers the City to provide convenient, user-friendly access for residents to connect, communicate, and collaborate with the City and with each other.
This document provides examples of solar lighting installation projects completed by Philips Solar in India. It describes projects such as installing solar LED lighting for 50,000 homes in Uttar Pradesh, installing over 100,000 solar street lights across Uttar Pradesh, and installing 75 solar LED lights at a Hindustan Unilever factory in Khamgaon. It also lists several other municipal and commercial solar lighting projects completed in India with luminaire wattages ranging from 12 to 56 watts. Customer references and comments are provided praising the performance and benefits of Philips Solar LED lighting solutions.
The solar industry in Arizona saw a significant decline in jobs between 2012 and 2013, dropping from 9,800 solar workers to 8,558, a reduction of over 1,200 jobs or 12.7%. This decline was largely due to the completion of large solar projects, policy uncertainty in the state, and struggles in the international solar industry. However, the outlook is somewhat more positive, with over one-third of Arizona solar companies expecting to add jobs by late 2014. The industry projects adding around 475 jobs, a growth rate of 5.6%, over the next year. Currently, the vast majority (around 68%) of Arizona solar workers are employed in the installation sector.
The document is a capstone project exploring consumer attitudes and actions regarding solar and wind energy adoption in Minnesota. It contains a literature review on previous research showing that environmental concern and economic motivations like reducing utility bills are top drivers for adoption, while high upfront costs and complexity are major barriers. The research also found that social learning from others who have adopted renewable energy can influence decisions. The project aims to understand Minnesota consumers and companies to help improve an online directory for finding solar and wind installers.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2013 found that the U.S. solar industry employed 142,698 workers as of November 2013, an increase of nearly 20% from 2012. Solar jobs are growing ten times faster than the overall economy. The solar industry expects to add over 22,000 new jobs in the next year, a 15.6% growth rate. Installers, which make up over two-thirds of new solar hires, added 12,500 workers in the past year and are expected to increase by nearly 15,000 next year.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2011 found that the U.S. solar industry employed over 100,000 workers, growing at nearly 10 times the rate of overall U.S. economy job growth. Solar jobs increased by 6,735 over the previous year with expectations of continued growth across sectors like manufacturing, installation, and sales. California led the nation with over 25,000 solar jobs while the top 20 states for solar employment accounted for over 85,000 jobs.
Fact Sheet: Solar Myths & Misconceptions - The Costs of Going SolarThe Solar Foundation
This document from The Solar Foundation dispels common myths about the costs of solar energy. It summarizes that the upfront costs of solar installations can be challenging but financing options like power purchase agreements or solar leases allow homeowners to adopt solar without large upfront costs. Solar panels have low maintenance needs and typically pay for themselves within 7-15 years, with some areas seeing payback in as little as 5 years. Installing solar can also increase property values and help homes sell faster.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2013 found that:
- Solar industry employment grew by nearly 20% since 2012 to 142,698 workers in 2013, a rate 10 times faster than overall US job growth.
- Three-quarters of the 24,000 new solar workers since 2012 were new jobs, representing 18,211 new jobs created.
- The solar industry expects to add approximately 22,240 new solar workers over the next year, a projected growth rate of 15.6%.
- Installation jobs, which grew by 12,500 workers since 2012, are expected to increase by nearly 15,000 next year.
This document discusses a review of rebate policies for solar PV adoption in the Northeastern United States. It begins with an introduction that outlines the benefits of solar PV generation and the high upfront costs that are a barrier to widespread adoption. It then discusses the role of rebate policies in stimulating demand for residential solar installations by reducing upfront costs. The document provides an overview of existing literature on solar policies including rebates and analyzes installation trends in Northeast states given their rebate programs. It concludes with a benefit-cost analysis of state rebate policies.
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Learn how to get a job in the solar industry and if you want to learn more check out the Udemy course bit.ly/solarjobcourse. Use the code "SolarCareer" for $25 off.
New report finds explosive growth in solar energy use by US schools over past decade, with installed capacity increasing from 303 kW to 457,000 kW. This saves schools $77.8 million annually in utility costs and reduces carbon emissions equivalent to taking nearly 100,000 cars off the road each year. While over 3,700 schools now use solar, providing benefits to 2.7 million students, potential remains for over 40,000 additional schools to install solar.
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- The vast majority (90%) of the new jobs were newly created positions rather than existing jobs taking on new solar responsibilities.
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-
This document lists potential 30-year savings from installing solar photovoltaic systems on the roofs of 50 large school districts in the US at installed costs of $2/watt and $2.50/watt. It shows that New York City public schools could save $209-169 million over 30 years, with savings per student of $270-218. Los Angeles public schools could save $91-61 million, with savings per student of $145-96. The largest savings per student were for Hawaii Department of Education at $380-329. Overall, significant savings were projected for many large school districts across the US from installing solar panels on their roofs.
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Presentation by Julie Topoleski, CBO’s Director of Labor, Income Security, and Long-Term Analysis, at the 16th Annual Meeting of the OECD Working Party of Parliamentary Budget Officials and Independent Fiscal Institutions.
1. s
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
Analysis of the Minnesota Solar Workforce
Minnesota Solar Jobs Census 2013
2. 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 that educates the public and transforms markets. In
2010, The Solar Foundation® released its first National Solar Jobs Census report. Census 2010 established
the first credible national solar jobs baseline and verified the positive impact the solar industry is having on
the U.S. economy. Using the same rigorous, peer-reviewed methodology, TSF has conducted an annual
Census in each of the last four years to track changes and analyze trends in the solar industry labor market.
!
This year s National Solar Jobs Census report series was produced by TSF and BW Research
Partnership, with the support of the following research partners:
• The George Washington University’s Solar Institute (GW Solar Institute);
• The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA); and
• The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC).
!TSF would like to acknowledge and thank its sponsors. Without their foresight and leadership, this
report would not have been possible:
• Energy Foundation;
• SolarCity;
• Sierra Club;
• Recurrent Energy;
• GTM Research and SEIA for providing complimentary copies of the U.S. Solar Market
Insight: 2012 Year in Review report to survey respondents; and
• Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations for helping to validate the
methodological framework for Census 2010-2012.
!TSF and BW Research also want to thank all of the Minnesota solar employers that participated in
the survey. Your responses were critical in providing us with the high level of accurate and timely
data needed to produce this report.
!For questions or comments about this report, please contact either:
!Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director
The Solar Foundation®
505 9th Street, NW - Suite 800 Washington, DC 20004
202-469-3750; info@solarfound.org
TheSolarFoundation.org
!Philip Jordan, Principal and Vice-President
BW Research Partnership
50 Mill Pond Dr. Wrentham, MA 02093
(508) 384-2471; pjordan@bwresearch.com
!Please cite this publication when referencing this material as “Minnesota Solar Jobs Census 2013, The Solar
Foundation, available at: www.TSFcensus.org.”
! Cover Photo Courtesy groSolar
2
3. About The Solar Foundation®
The Solar Foundation® (TSF) is an independent national 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose
mission is to increase understanding of solar energy through strategic research that educates the
public and transforms markets. TSF is considered the premier research organization on the solar
labor force, employer trends, and economic impacts of solar. It has provided leading-edge
industry insight to the National Academies, the Inter-American Development Bank, the U.S.
Department of Energy, and other organizations 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 of the solar industry
worldwide.
About BW Research Partnership
BW Research is widely regarded as the national leader in labor market analysis 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, and Vermont, and numerous skills and gap
analyses for community colleges, workforce investment boards, state agencies, and nonprofit
organizations.
BW Research provides high quality data and keen insight into economic and workforce
issues related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, recycling, water, waste, and
wastewater management, and other environmental fields. The principals of the firm are
committed to providing research and analysis for data-driven decision-making.
About The George Washington University Solar Institute
The George Washington University Solar Institute (GW Solar Institute) is a unique research
and information center focused on identifying, developing, and sharing pragmatic and politically
attuned solutions to the policy barriers preventing the adoption and scale of solar energy. Toward
these ends, the GW Solar Institute pursues research projects in a wide range of disciplines,
typically in partnership with other university faculty, industry experts, and GW students. In
addition, the GW Solar Institute also leverages its intricate knowledge of the policymaking
process and location in Washington, DC to convene stakeholders and provide decision-makers
with unbiased new ideas on solar related policies, regulatory approaches, and government
investments.
3
4. 1. Introduction
The U.S. solar industry continued it trend of record growth in 2013. The industry employs
142,698 solar workers
across the entire value chain—from research and development through1
installation and maintenance. Market indicators, as well as employers’ reported optimism, each
suggest little sign of a slowdown.
After record 19.9% employment growth since September 2012, employers expect to grow
their payrolls by 15.6% nationally through November 2014, while continuing to become more
efficient and competitive. These projections suggest the addition of 22,240 new solar jobs
nationally in the coming year.
Though perhaps not what one would think of as a “traditional” solar state, Minnesota has
managed to build a respectably-sized solar market over the past decade or so. With 16.2
megawatts (MW) of cumulative installed solar capacity,
the state generates enough electricity2
from solar each year to meet the needs of almost 2,100 average Minnesota homes.
These figures3
place Minnesota as the 28th largest state solar market in terms of total installed capacity. The 864
solar workers supported by this industry in 2013 give the state a similar ranking in terms of solar
employment—31st out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Minnesota’s modest annual capacity growth over the last several years has been supported
by a basic collection of policies, including the state’s respectable net energy metering rules. The
recent uptick in installations starting around 2010 (see Figure 1) can be largely credited to Xcel
Energy’s Solar*Rewards program, through which the utility provided its commercial, residential,
nonprofit, and local government customers with substantial rebates (up to $5.00/watt for certain
systems manufactured in Minnesota).
Recent substantial policy changes, however, place Minnesota on the cusp of a potential
solar boom that may see total installed capacity grow by several hundred megawatts by the end
of the decade. One of the changes expected to lead this flurry of new installations is the state’s
first solar electricity standard, which requires Minnesota’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to
4
For this study, the definition of a solar worker is any person who spends at least 50% of their time conducting1
solar activities. Nationally, 91% of these solar workers spend 100% of their time conducting solar activities. In
Minnesota, 80.8% of solar workers spend all of their time conducting solar activities.
Sherwood/Interstate Renewable Energy Council, L. (2013). U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012. Retrieved from2
http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Solar-Report-Final-July-2013-1.pdf; Kann/ GTM
Research, S., Mehta/ GTM Research, S., Shiao/ GTM Research, M., Honeyman/ GTM Research, C., Litvak/
GTM Research, N., Jones/ GTM Research, J., . . . Baca/ SEIA, J. (2013). Solar Market Insight 2013 Q3 | SEIA.
Retrieved from http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-market-insight-2013-q3.
SEIA (2014). What's in a Megawatt? | SEIA. Retrieved from http://www.seia.org/policy/solar-technology/3
photovoltaic-solar-electric/whats-megawatt.
5. derive at least 1.5% of retail electricity sales in 2020 from solar energy in addition to what is
already required under its renewable energy standard. On its own, this solar standard is expected
to result in the addition of 450 MW of new solar capacity in the state in just seven years. Another
recent addition to Minnesota’s solar policy toolkit was the nation’s first-ever statewide Value of
Solar (VOS) tariff, a variation on traditional net metering programs designed to credit customers
for the all solar electricity their systems produce at a rate that takes into consideration all the
costs and benefits associated with distributed solar. Once a methodology for calculating the VOS
tariff has been approved, IOUs will have the option to offer this tariff in lieu of net metering, but
will not be required to do so. 4
Minnesota also recently adopted its “Made in Minnesota” production incentive, under
which customers across several sectors are eligible to receive from between $0.13-$0.18 per
kilowatt-hour (for commercial customers) to $0.29-$0.39/kWh for residential customers for solar
electricity generated from qualified solar modules manufactured in the state. Included among
these reforms was also a mandate that Xcel Energy develop and operate a community solar
garden program, which would make solar energy accessible to rate payers for whom a rooftop
system is not an option.
Given the scope of these sweeping policy changes, this Census report5
was primarily conducted in order to provide an employment baseline from which to measure
future growth in solar jobs resulting from the rapid increase in new solar installations anticipated
over the next several years.
Figure 1: Installed Solar Capacity—Minnesota
5
Tomassoni/ Minnesota Senate, D., & Mahoney/ Minnesota House of Representatives, T. (n.d.).Chapter 85 -4
Revisor of Statutes (2013). Retrieved from Office of the Revisor of Statuses website: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/
laws/?id=85&year=2013&type=0.
Id.5
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2"
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Minnesota(Annual(Solar(Power(Capacity(Installa8ons,(2006=2013(
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6. Methodology
The data in this report are collected from a census of the solar industry and a representative
sample of employers throughout the value chain of activities that contribute to the industry. As
with the National Solar Jobs Census, this report includes information about all types of
companies, from component manufacturers to installation subcontactors, engaged in the
production, sale, installation, and use of all solar technologies, ranging from PV to CSP to solar
water heating systems across the residential, commercial, and utility market segments.
Unlike economic impact models that generate employment estimates based on economic
data (such as company revenue) or jobs-per-megawatt (or jobs-per-dollar) assumptions, the
National Solar Jobs Census series provides statistically valid and current data gathered from
actual employers. The primary data contained in this report are drawn from a mixed-method
survey administered directly to employers. Data collection occurred during October and
November 2013 in two stages: (1) through a survey of so-called “known universe”
establishments; and (2) via a random sampling of businesses within various construction, sales
and distribution, and manufacturing industries.
For this Minnesota report, 17,152 telephone calls were attempted and approximately 50
emails were sent to potential solar establishments across the state. This mixed approach, which
the Bureau of Labor Statistics recognizes as the emerging standard,
given its own limitations in6
calculating solar employment, allows us to draw broad conclusions about the solar industry with
a high degree of confidence, as well as generate accurate, local level employment estimates.
Over 3,313 Minnesota employers participated in the survey, resulting in 139 full survey
completions. The level of information gathered is truly astounding, with 49% of all potential solar
establishments statewide providing information on their activities connected to the industry. This
results in a low margin of error of +/-1.2% and allows for extremely high confidence in these
state data.
The figures included in this report are conservative estimates, meaning that there may well
be more solar workers than reported herein. It is also important to mention that there are limits to
the survey approach. Because the research findings are based on survey responses, the
employment growth figures cited in the following sections represent employers’ best estimates of
how many jobs they will add over the coming year. As seen in the National Solar Jobs Census
reports, actual growth may vary.
In addition, this report includes employment and demographic information at the state and
federal legislative-district level. Conducting small-sample estimation is a very challenging and
labor-intensive exercise. For this study, a significant oversample of Minnesota firms was required
6
!
Based on conversations with BLS staff in 2010.6
7. to gather enough responses to make estimates for 67 legislative districts and eight congressional
districts. The analysis includes constructing zip-code distribution allocations for each district in
the known and unknown databases, small-area means derivation, and comparisons to labor
market statistics and demographic data. The results of this rigorous work are included in the
tables in Section 3.
7
Photo Courtesy NREL
8. 2. Labor Market Analysis: Overview of the Industry
The solar industry in Minnesota employs 864 solar workers, a figure which represents 73%
employment growth from the approximately 500 employed by the industry in September 2012.
This compares quite favorably with overall statewide job growth of 2% over the same period. 7
Employers expect continued growth over the next 12 months, anticipating the addition of nearly
250 jobs (28.3% growth in employment through November 2014), with about one in four
employers expecting to add jobs and fewer than 3% expecting to reduce the size of their
workforce (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Employer Expectations, 12 Months—Minnesota
Survey respondents were asked several questions to better understand their activities and
ensure that they are in fact working in the solar industry. Figure 3 on the following page
illustrates the breakdown of Minnesota establishments, which are mostly focused on installation
and sales or trade.
!
8
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (2014). MNDEED - LMI - CES.7
Retrieved February 7, 2014, from https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/ces/default.aspx.
More
24.7%
Same number
67.1%
Fewer
2.7%
DK/NA
5.5%
9. Figure 3: Percentage of Respondents by Sector
Table 1: Data by Sector—Number of Solar Workers in Minnesota
*2013 employment in “Other” includes 11 solar workers at nonprofits, 11 in government, and 3 in academia.
Taken together, data on the percentage of respondents by sector and the number of
employees each employs can provide a general sense of the size of some of these companies.
The manufacturing sector, for example, represents only 6.8% of total respondents, but accounts
Sector 2013 Jobs 2014 Projected
Employment
2013 - 2014 Expected
Growth Rate
Installation 394 508 29%
Manufacturing 124 172 39%
Sales and Distribution 96 109 14%
Project Development 121 179 48%
Other* 129 141 9.3%
Total 864 1,108 28%
9
56.2%
16.4% 6.8%
5.5%
4.1%
1.4%
0.0%
8.2%
1.4%
Installation
Sales / Trade
Manufacturing / Assembling
Project Development
Nonprofit
Government
Academic
Other (Including R&D)
Don't know
10. for 14% of all solar workers, which means that the average manufacturing firm employs more
workers than firms in some other sectors. A similar conclusion may be drawn for companies
focused on project development, which constitute 5.5% of respondents while accounting for
14% of workers.
Minnesota firms are highly focused on photovoltaics (80.8%) and water heating (41.1%),
roughly consistent with their national peers (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Solar Establishments by Technology Area
In order to determine the proportion of business activities focused on solar, firms were
asked to provide the percentage of revenue derived from solar sales. Minnesota firms are more
likely to be engaged in both solar and non-solar activities, with only 20.5% earning all of their
revenue from solar goods or services (Figure 5). This compares to 44% nationally.
10
8.2%
11.0%
9.6%
41.1%
80.8%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
DK/NA
Other
Concentrating solar power
Water heating, which includes pool heating
Photovoltaic
11. Figure 5: Company Revenues Attributed to Solar
Minnesota employers were queried on whether the new solar workers added from
November 2012 to November 2013
were newly created positions or were existing employees8
who took on new solar-related tasks. In Minnesota, 72.1% of the new solar jobs over the past
year were newly created positions, basically consistent with the 76.9% reported nationally
(Figure 6).
Figure 6: New Positions at Solar Establishments
11
Fourteen months separated the data collection from Census 2012 — 2013. For this question, however, firms8
were asked about their employees hired over the last 12 months, a slightly shorter time period but consistent with
employer surveys.
Newly created
positions
72.1%
Existing
employees given
added solar
responsibilities
27.9%
20.5%
13.7%
61.6%
4.1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
All of it (100%) Most but not all (50% to 99%) Less than half (1% to 49%) DK/NA
12. For Minnesota establishments that reported new solar employment over the previous year,
70.6% indicated that those hired were required to have previous work experience related to the
position, much higher than the national average of 50.2%. Educational qualifications commonly
sought by Minnesota employers differ markedly from what was observed at the national level.
Thirty-eight percent of new solar workers had an associate’s degree or certification from an
accredited college, compared with only 13% nationwide. Nearly 15% of new Minnesota
workers had a least a bachelor’s degree, compared with over 27% nationally.
Figure 7: Background of Newly Hired Solar Workers - Percent of Workers
!
Survey respondents were asked to provide a demographic profile of their solar workers. In
Minnesota, 8.8% of the solar workforce are women, 1.8% are African American, 10.4% are
Latino/Hispanic, and 4.4% are Asian/Pacific Islander.
Minnesota solar establishments employ veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces at a high rate.
Seventeen percent of the Minnesota solar workforce are veterans, which is significantly higher
than the national average for the industry of 9.2%, and over twice the proportion of veterans
represented in the overall U.S. workforce.
!
12
14.7%
38.2%
70.6%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Required a bachelors degree or
beyond
Required an associates degree or
certificate from an accredited college,
but not a bachelor's degree
Required previous work experience
related to the position
13. 2.1 Detailed Labor Market Analysis—Installation
As previously reported, the Minnesota solar industry is made up predominantly of firms
engaged in the installation sector. Due to the small but growing size of the market, statistically
significant information on the additional sectors is unavailable. The respondents in the
installation sector, however, did provide relevant information about their activities to be
included.
Solar installation firms in Minnesota are focused primarily on photovoltaics, while almost
one in three install water heating and pool heating products. Concentrating solar power (CSP) is
used only in very small demonstration projects in Minnesota.
Figure 8: Solar Establishments by Technology Area—Installers
13
90.2%
31.7%
2.4% 4.9% 4.9%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Photovoltaic Water heating,
which includes
pool heating
Concentrating
solar power
Other Don't know/
Refused
Photo Courtesy groSolar
14. Unlike the national average, more Minnesota solar installers are focused on small
commercial systems, rather than residential installations.
Figure 9: Solar Establishments by Project Size—Installers
Minnesota installation firms also differ from their peers across the country in their responses
to why they believe their customers are adopting solar power. Nationally, installation firms saw
cost as their customers’ primary motivation to go solar (“to save money” or “solar energy prices
are now more competitive with utility”), while in Minnesota, 22.5% reported “to benefit the
environment and mitigate climate change.” This compares with only 8.3% of installers nationally
(Figure 10).
Figure 10: Primary Reasons Customers Choose to Install Solar—Installers
14
5.4%
5.4%
24.3%
67.6%
78.4%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Large commercial and industrial 201
kilowatts or larger
Utility scale projects that deliver
wholesale electricity
Medium to large commercial and
industrial systems
Residential systems
Small commercial systems up to 50
kilowatts
10.0%
0.0%
0.0%
5.0%
5.0%
15.0
22.5%
42.5%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
DK/NA
Other
They know a neighbor, friend, or
family member who installed solar
To make America more energy
independent
To have power when the grid goes
down
Solar energy costs are now more
competitive with utility
To benefit the environment and
mitigate climate change
To save money
15. 3. Geographic Data
The high cooperation rates and extensive sampling allowed for detailed geographic analysis
of the Minnesota solar workforce. Sixty-four percent of the Minnesota solar workforce is found in
and around Minneapolis-St. Paul, representing 554 of the 864 solar workers in the state.
The data also include information about each of the 67 legislative districts and eight
congressional districts in Minnesota, presented in the tables and maps below.
Figure 11: Employment by State Legislative Districts
!
15
18. Legislative
District
Representative Representative Senator Total
Empl.
59 Mullery, Joe Dehn, Raymond Champion, Bobby
Joe
57
64 Murphy, Erin Paymar, Michael Cohen, Richard 53
48 Selcer, Yvonne Loon, Jenifer Hann, David W. 50
44 Anderson, Sarah Benson, John Bonoff, Terri E. 49
33 Hertaus, Jerry Pugh, Cindy Osmek, David J. 47
61 Hornstein, Frank Thissen, Paul Dibble, D. Scott 33
38 Runbeck, Linda Dean, Matt Chamberlain, Roger
C.
29
40 Nelson, Michael
V.
Hilstrom, Debra Eaton, Chris A. 28
60 Loeffler, Diane Kahn, Phyllis Dziedzic, Kari 26
21 Kelly, Tim Drazkowski, Steve Schmit, Matt 21
31 Daudt, Kurt Hackbarth, Tom Benson, Michelle R. 21
3 Dill, David Murphy, Mary Bakk, Thomas M. 20
41 Bernardy, Connie Laine, Carolyn Goodwin, Barb 20
49 Erhardt, Ron Rosenthal, Paul Franzen, Melisa 20
20 Woodard, Kelby Bly, David Dahle, Kevin L. 17
53 Ward, JoAnn Kieffer, Andrea Kent, Susan 17
15 Erickson, Sondra Newberger, Jim Brown, David M. 16
29 McDonald, Joe O'Neill, Marion Anderson, Bruce D. 16
37 Newton, Jerry Sanders, Tim Johnson, Alice M. 15
13 Howe, Jeff O'Driscoll, Tim Fischbach, Michelle 14
42 Yarusso, Barb Isaacson, Jason Scalze, Bev 14
2 Erickson, Roger Green, Steve Skoe, Rod 12
8 Nornes, Bud Franson, Mary Ingebrigtsen, Bill 12
30 Zerwas, Nick FitzSimmons,
David
Kiffmeyer, Mary 12
36 Uglem, Mark Hortman, Melissa Hoffman, John A. 12
50 Slocum, Linda Lenczewski, Ann Wiklund, Melissa H. 12
5 Persell, John Anzelc, Tom Saxhaug, Tom 11
9 Anderson, Mark Kresha, Ron Gazelka, Paul E. 11
34 Peppin, Joyce Zellers, Kurt Limmer, Warren 11
51 Masin, Sandra Halverson, Laurie Carlson, Jim 11
16 Swedzinski,
Chris
Torkelson, Paul Dahms, Gary H. 10
25 Quam, Duane Norton, Kim Senjem, David H. 10
65 Moran, Rena Mariani, Carlos Pappas, Sandra L. 10
6 Melin, Carly Metsa, Jason Tomassoni, David J. 9
18
19. Legislative
District
Representative Representative Senator Total
Empl.
12 McNamar, Jay Anderson, Paul Westrom, Torrey N. 9
35 Abeler, Jim Scott, Peggy Petersen, Branden 9
55 Beard, Michael Albright, Tony Pratt, Eric R. 8
4 Lien, Ben Marquart, Paul Eken, Kent 7
10 Ward, John Radinovich, Joe Ruud, Carrie 7
11 Sundin, Mike Faust, Tim Lourey, Tony 7
17 Falk, Andrew Sawatzky, Mary Koenen, Lyle 7
57 Mack, Tara Wills, Anna Clausen, Greg D. 7
1 Fabian, Dan Kiel, Debra Stumpf, LeRoy A. 6
18 Urdahl, Dean Gruenhagen, Glenn Newman, Scott J. 6
39 Dettmer, Bob Lohmer, Kathy Housley, Karin 6
19 Johnson, Clark Brynaert, Kathy Sheran, Kathy 5
22 Schomacker, Joe Hamilton, Rod Weber, Bill 5
23 Gunther, Bob Cornish, Tony Rosen, Julie A. 5
27 Savick, Shannon Poppe, Jeanne Sparks, Dan 5
52 Hansen, Rick Atkins, Joe Metzen, James P. 5
32 Johnson, Brian Barrett, Bob Nienow, Sean R. 4
45 Carlson, Sr., Lyndon Freiberg, Mike Rest, Ann H. 4
47 Leidiger, Ernie Hoppe, Joe Ortman, Julianne E. 4
7 Huntley, Thomas Simonson, Erik Reinert, Roger J. 3
24 Petersburg, John Fritz, Patti Jensen, Vicki 3
26 Liebling, Tina Benson, Mike Nelson, Carla J. 3
28 Pelowski, Jr., Gene Davids, Greg Miller, Jeremy R. 3
46 Winkler, Ryan Simon, Steve Latz, Ron 2
54 Schoen, Dan McNamara, Denny Sieben, Katie 2
67 Mahoney, Tim Johnson, Sheldon Hawj, Foung 2
43 Fischer, Peter Lillie, Leon Wiger, Charles W. 1
56 Myhra, Pam Morgan, Will Hall, Dan D. 1
63 Davnie, Jim Wagenius, Jean Torres Ray, Patricia 1
66 Hausman, Alice Lesch, John Marty, John 1
14 Theis, Tama Dorholt, Zachary Pederson, John C. 0
58 Holberg, Mary Liz Garofalo, Pat Thompson, Dave 0
62 Clark, Karen Allen, Susan Hayden, Jeff 0
Total 864
19
20. Figure 12: Federal Congressional Districts
Table 2: Federal Congressional Districts
Congress.
District
Legislator Total
Empl.
Women African
American
Latino/
Hispanic
Asian/
Pacific
Islander
Veterans
1 Walz, Timothy J. 58 1 2 1 0 12
2 Kline, John 56 3 2 3 1 11
3 Paulsen, Erik 250 29 3 34 15 36
4 McCollum, Betty 165 19 2 22 9 25
5 Ellison, Keith 141 19 1 22 9 20
6 Bachmann,
Michele
60 1 2 1 1 12
7 Peterson, Collin C. 61 1 2 2 1 13
8 Nolan, Rick 73 3 2 4 2 14
Total 864 76 16 89 38 143
20
21. 4.0 Conclusions
Though a strong solar market has been relatively slow to take hold in the state,
Minnesota now stands at the threshold of an imminent boom in solar installations. Driven
by a host of strong pro-solar policies set to go into effect this year, the state is anticipating
a nearly thirty-fold increase in total installed solar capacity by the end of the decade.
Though the state’s 864 solar workers may seem paltry in comparison with employment in
some of the more dominant solar markets, Minnesota can expect to add a number of new
solar workers commensurate with the predicted increase in installations.
!
The solar employers surveyed for this state Census revealed some notable
information about the training and experience of the workers they hire. For example, solar
companies here place a much greater emphasis on previous related work experience
when seeking new employees. Nearly 71% of solar workers hired in Minnesota over the
previous year had some previous work experience related to the position. By comparison,
only 50% of new hires in the national solar industry required previous work experience,
which is much closer to what was observed in our California and Arizona Census efforts.
While education remains an important qualification for new solar workers, Minnesota
employers appear to prefer workers with an associate’s degree or a certificate from an
accredited college (38.2% of new hires) over those holding a bachelor’s degree or beyond
(14.7%). This is the reverse of what was observed on the national level, where it is more
common for employers to hire candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree (27.6% of new
workers in 2013) than those with an associate’s degree or certificate (13.1%). More
investigation is required to fully understand the drivers of these differences.
!
Another noteworthy finding from this Minnesota Census was the disproportionately
high representation of veterans of the U.S. Armed Services in the state solar industry.
Approximately one in six Minnesota solar workers (17%) have served in the military,
though statewide, U.S. veterans under 65 (those most likely to be working or seeking
work) only represent 6.4% of the state’s total civilian labor force. The Minnesota solar
industry’s employment of veterans also compares favorably with the national solar
industry as a whole, in which 9.2% of solar workers were found to be former service
members. Identifying the causes behind the relatively high employment rate of veterans in
the state’s solar industry is a subject for further research. However, The Solar Foundation®,
in partnership with the Truman National Security Project’s “Operation Free” campaign,
seeks to take on a related effort—designed to understand how skills developed in military
occupations transfer over to jobs in the solar industry—which may provide some insight
into the factors driving the high veteran employment rate observed in the Minnesota solar
industry.
!
If you find this Minnesota Census to be useful, please don't hesitate to make a tax-deductible donation to
The Solar Foundation®. Each donation, no matter the size, helps us provide credible research that deepens
our understanding of the industry and drives the market.
!More information at www.TheSolarFoundation.org
21
22. !
5. Appendices
5.1 Data Sources
!
EMSI Data Sources and Calculations
Industry Data
!
In order to capture a complete picture of industry employment, EMSI basically combines covered
employment data from Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) produced by the
Department of Labor with total employment data in Regional Economic Information System
(REIS) published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), augmented with County Business
Patterns (CBP) and Nonemployer Statistics (NES) published by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Projections are based on the latest available EMSI industry data, 15-year past local trends in each
industry, growth rates in statewide and (where available) sub-state area industry projections
published by individual state agencies, and (in part) growth rates in national projections from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
!
State Data Sources
!
This report uses state data from the following agencies: Minnesota Department of Labor
!
!
!!
!
22
23. 5.2 Data Limitations and Methodology
The Minnesota Solar Jobs Census methodology is most closely aligned with the
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ methodology for its Quarterly Census of Employment and
Wages (QCEW) and Current Employment Statistics (CES). Like BLS, this study uses survey
questionnaires and employer-reported data, though ours are administered by phone and
email, as opposed to mail.
!
Also like BLS, we develop a hierarchy of various categories that represent solar
value chain activities (within their broader NAICS framework), develop representative
sample frames, and use statistical analysis and extrapolation in a very similar manner to
BLS. We also constrain our universe of establishments by relying on the most recent data
from the BLS or the state departments of labor, depending on which is collected most
recently. We believe that the categories that we have developed could be readily adopted
by BLS should it choose to begin to quantify solar employment in its QCEW and CES
series.
!
The survey was administered to a known universe of Minnesota solar employers
that includes approximately 86 establishments and is derived from SEIA’s National Solar
Database as well as other public and private sources. Of these establishments, 32
provided information about their solar activities (or lack thereof), and 23 completed full or
substantially completed surveys.
!
The Minnesota survey was also administered to a stratified, clustered, random
sampling from various industries that are potentially solar-related that include a total of
6,666 establishments statewide. After an extensive cleaning and de-duplication process, a
sampling plan was developed that gathered information on the level of solar activity
(including none) from 3,181 establishments. Of these, 116 establishments qualified for
and completed full surveys. This level of sampling rigor provides a margin of error for
establishment counts at +/-1.22% and employment at +/-6.28% at a 95% confidence
interval. For a more complete description of the methodology, please see the National
Solar Jobs Census 2013 available at www.TSFcensus.org.
!
The figures provided in this report are estimates based on surveys administered only
to employers in installation, manufacturing, sales and distribution, project development
and “other” establishments in research and development, legal services, finance and
accounting, academia, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other ancillary
employers that do solar work. Data for the “other” category do not capture all jobs or
establishments in the category. Although some “other” establishments are included in the
Known Universe, accounting, legal, finance, and other ancillary establishments spend
only a very small portion of their time on solar activities. Thus, full inclusion would lead
to inflated employment counts.
!
23
24. 5.3 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are these "Direct Jobs" only?
Direct, indirect, and induced are terms intended to explain the various levels of
economic activity that result from changes to an economy. These figures, generated by
economic modeling exercises, are best applied to specific projects rather than entire
industries. For example, a utility scale solar project would have a certain number of
people working on the construction of the plant (direct), the workers who manufacture
and deliver the goods (indirect), and support the local economy by increasing the
spending on goods and services, such as restaurants, gas stations, and retail
establishments (induced). Census data includes most of the direct and indirect jobs in the
solar industry, with the exception of some indirect jobs in the component and materials
supply chain.
2. How does your methodology compare with the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
The Census methodology is most closely aligned with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’
methodology for its Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and Current
Employment Statistics (CES). Like BLS, this study uses survey questionnaires and
employer-reported data, though ours are administered by phone and email, as opposed to
mail. Also like BLS, we develop a hierarchy of various categories that represent solar
value chain activities (within their broader NAICS framework), develop representative
sample frames, and use statistical analysis and extrapolation in a very similar manner to
BLS. We also constrain our universe of establishments by relying on the most recent data
from the BLS or the state departments of labor, depending on which is collected most
recently. We believe that the categories that we have developed could be readily adopted
by BLS should it choose to begin to quantify solar employment in its QCEW and CES
series.
3. How is a solar worker defined?
A "solar worker" is defined as those workers who spend at least 50% of their time
supporting solar-related activities. This definition helps to avoid the over-counting that is
inherent in methods that count every single job in terms of FTEs or job hours. For
example, although BLS does not yet quantify solar jobs, they count other types of
occupations by counting every single job separately regardless of hours or fraction of time
actually spent on the job. As a result, according to the BLS, someone with three part-time
jobs yields three jobs. Although the BLS and others consider our methodology to be the
emerging standard for tracking jobs they do not yet track, critics of our methodology claim
a 50% definition causes jobs to be over counted. However, the reality is that over 90% of
those who meet our definition of a solar worker in 2013 actually spend 100% of their
time supporting solar-related activities.
Because the Census covers sectors directly related9
24
In Minnesota, this figure is 81%.9
25. to new installed solar capacity and the sectors that support these efforts, jobs figures are
best thought of as covering direct and indirect jobs.
4. What is the minimum education necessary to enter the solar job field?
While there exist entry-level positions for individuals interested in entering certain
solar job fields, there is not always an immediate pathway into these jobs. Of the
employers who participated in the Minnesota Solar Jobs Census, 71% indicated that they
look for previous related experience in the solar workers they hire. In addition, over 38%
noted they require at least an associate’s degree or certificate from an accredited college
and approximately 15% seek workers with a bachelor’s degree or beyond. Those
interested in beginning a career in the solar industry can learn more about the education,
experience, and skills required for these jobs by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Solar Career Map at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/careermap.
!
More FAQs about the Census methodology and national results are available in the
National Solar Jobs Census 2013, available at www.TSFcensus.org.
!
!
25
26. !
6. Solar Employment in Other States
Due to the immense investment of time and funding required to do so accurately
with a survey-based methodology, the Census report series does not directly provide
estimates of solar employment in each of the 50 states. In early 2013, The Solar
Foundation® published its first-ever State Solar Jobs Map (www.solarstates.org), an
interactive, web-based tool presenting the most credible estimates of state-level jobs
currently known. These figures were internally generated by The Solar Foundation® with
technical assistance from the Solar Energy Industries Association’s Research Department
using thousands of data points from a combination of high-quality sources, including
survey results from National Solar Jobs Census Series and the Solar Energy Industries
Association’s “National Solar Database.”
!
These state employment figures were produced using a carefully developed dual
methodology—one for installation and construction jobs and another for distributed
generation and non-installation jobs. In brief, method one employed 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
each state. The final state totals provided are the rounded average of our high and low
estimates.
!
Updated state-level employment estimates were made available through The Solar
Foundation’s® State Solar Jobs Map website (www.solarstates.org) on February 11th,
2014.
26
27. !
Copyright Notice
!
Unless otherwise noted, all design, text, graphics, and the selection and arrangement
thereof are Copyright February 2014 by The Solar Foundation® and BW Research
Partnership. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials in this report, including
reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication, without the prior written
consent of The Solar Foundation® and BW Research Partnership, is strictly prohibited.
!
!
Please cite this publication when referencing this material as “Minnesota Solar Jobs
Census 2013, The Solar Foundation, available at: www.TSFcensus.org.”