California Solar Jobs Census 2015

7/25/2019 California Solar Jobs Census 2015

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2015

CALIFORNIASOLAR JOBSCENSUS


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ABOUT THE SOLAR FOUNDATION

The Solar Foundation (TSF) is an independent 501(c)(3)

nonproit organization whose mission is to increaseunderstanding of solar energy through strategic research andeducation that transforms markets. TSF is considered thepremier research organization on the solar labor workforce,

employer trends, and the economic impacts of solar. It hasprovided expert advice to leading organizations such asthe National Academies, the Inter-American DevelopmentBank, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others during atime of dynamic industry growth and policy and economicuncertainty.

While TSF recognizes that solar energy is a key part of ourenergy future, it is committed to excellence in its aim to helppeople fairly and objectively gauge the value and importanceof solar technologies.

ABOUT BW RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP

BW Research is widely regarded as the national leader inlabor market research for emerging industries and cleanenergy technologies. In addition to the Censusseries, BWResearch has conducted rigorous solar installation andwind industry labor market analysis for the NationalRenewable Energy Laboratory, wind energy and energyretroit studies for the Natural Resources Defense Council,a series of comprehensive clean energy workforce studiesfor the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Illinois, Vermont,

Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and California, as well asnumerous skills and gap analyses for community colleges,workforce investment boards, state agencies, and nonproitorganizations.

ABOUT CALSEIA

Since the 1970s, CALSEIA has advanced the commoninterests of the solar industry, helping make California's solarmarket the most robust in the United States. Comprised ofover three hundred contractors, manufacturers, distributors,developers, engineers, consultants and educationalorganizations, CALSEIA represents a diverse membershipcommitted to growing the California solar industry. CALSEIAengages with local and state decision makers to ensureCalifornia remains a solar energy leader through good publicpolicy and regulations that provide clarity, transparency, andcertainty.

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Solar Foundation (TSF) is a national 501(c)

(3) nonproit organization whose mission is toincrease understanding of solar energy throughstrategic research and education that transformmarkets. In 2010, TSF conducted its irst NationalSolar Jobs Census report, establishing the irstcredible solar jobs baseline and verifying thatthe solar industry is having a positive impacton the U.S. economy. Using the same rigorous,

peer-reviewed methodology, TSF has conductedan annual Censusin each of the last six years totrack changes and analyze trends.

This California Solar Jobs Census 2015report is an

offshoot of TSFs National Solar Jobs Census 2015effort. Research partners for the Census 2015effort include the George Washington UniversitySolar Institute for providing assistance andsupport in reviewing and validating reportresults and analysis; the Solar Energy Industries

Association (SEIA) for use of its National Solar

Database and peer review; and GTM Research/SEIA for providing survey respondents with theU.S. Solar Market Insight: 2014 YIR report.

Other sponsors of this years Census effortinclude: Energy Foundation, William andFlora Hewlett Foundation, Tilia Fund, GeorgeWashington University Solar Institute, SEIA,Recurrent, SolarCity, First Solar, Sol Systems,E.ON, Trina Solar, State of Minnesota Department

of Commerce, State of New Mexico EnergyMinerals and Natural Resources Department,Utah Governors Ofice of Energy Development,sPower, Standard Solar, CALSEIA, All EarthRenewables, and groSolar.

Finally, we want to thank all the Californiaemployers that participated in the survey. Yourresponses were critical in providing us withaccurate and timely data.

Andrea LueckePresident and Executive DirectorThe Solar Foundation

202-469-3750; [email protected]

www.TheSolarFoundation.org

Philip JordanPrincipal and Vice PresidentBW Research Partnership508-384-2471; [email protected]

www.bwresearch.com

For questions or comments about this report, please contact either:

Please cite this publication when referencing this material as California Solar Jobs Census 2015,The Solar Foundation, available at: www.TSFcensus.organd SolarStates.org
mailto:[email protected]://www.thesolarfoundation.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.bwresearch.com/http://www.tsfcensus.org/http://solarstates.org/http://solarstates.org/http://www.tsfcensus.org/http://www.bwresearch.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.thesolarfoundation.org/mailto:[email protected]


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PLACEHOLDER IMAGE

Photo courtesy of S


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1California Solar Jobs Census 2015

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. solar industry experienced

yet another record-breaking year

in 2015, with more than 7,400

megawatts (MW) of domestic

photovoltaic (PV) capacity expected

to have been installed an 18.5%

increase over that of 2014 bringing

total U.S. solar capacity to nearly

27.5 gigawatts (GW).1

As the rate of capacity installation hasaccelerated, employers across the countryhave continued to expand the size of their

payrolls. This years sixth annual NationalSolar Jobs Census found that the U.S. solar

industry employed 208,859 workers as of

November 2015, representing the addition

of 35,052 jobs, and a 20.2% increase in

employment over November 2014.Since The

Solar Foundation began tracking these numbersin 2010, employment in the industry has morethan doubled, growing by 123% and adding over115,000 jobs. Employers nationwide expect

this growth trend to continue through 2016,projecting to add nearly 31,000 jobs to the solarworkforce over the course of the year.

Capacity Data Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

93,502105,145

119,016

142,698

173,807

208,859

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015E

AddedCapacity(MW)

SolarJobs

U.S. PV Capacity Additions & Solar Jobs, 2010 - 2015E

PV Capacity Additions Solar Jobs


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Throughout 2015, California continued todemonstrate national leadership in new solarinstalled capacity, solar workforce growth, andsolar policy. It is estimated that nearly 3,000megawatts (MW) of new solar photovoltaic(PV) capacity were installed across the statelast year. While this igure represents a decreasein annual capacity additions year-over-year(owing to a decline in new utility-scale PV andconcentrating solar power capacity), it is morethan was installed in the next six largest 2015solar markets combined.2

With this market growth has come acommensurate increase in the size of theCalifornia solar workforce. As of November2015, the state solar industry employed

75,598 solar workers, representing 38.2%

growth in employment over the previous

year.3 Employers remain optimistic aboutcontinued workforce growth through 2016,collectively anticipating 18.9% growth inemployment (approximately 14,300 solarworkers). Such growth would see the Californiasolar workforce in 2016 approach 90,000 solarworkers nearly as many as were employed in

the entire nation in 2010.4

Californias solar growth has been drivenprimarily by its utility-scale market segment,which since 2012 has accounted for at leastas much and often many times more new

annual installed capacity as the residential andnon-residential market segments combined.5This market segment owes its strength inrecent years to declines in the installed costof utility-scale PV systems. The costs averagedaround $1.53/watt nationally in Q3 2015, aigure representing an 18.6% decline year-over-year and only one-third of the national averagereported residential system price. The pricedeclines have resulted in continued increases in

the inancial beneits of solar energy relative toconventional forms of electricity.6

Another strong driver of utility-scale growthhas been state and national policy. Installationsin 2012 and 2013 were primarily due to utilityefforts to meet their obligations under the statesRenewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which atthe time required 33% of utility retail electricsales be derived from renewable sources by

Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

0.0

500.0

1,000.0

1,500.0

2,000.0

2,500.0

3,000.0

3,500.0

4,000.0

4,500.0

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015E

AddedCapacity(M

W)

California Solar Capacity Additions, 2010 - 2015E

Residential (PV) Non-Residential (PV) Utility (PV) Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)


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2020. By 2013, California utilities already had apipeline of projects suficient for meeting theirRPS obligations. As the state RPS waned as adriver of utility-scale growth, looming nationalsolar policy changes continued to spur growth.

Until very recently, the federal investment taxcredit (ITC) was set to expire completely forresidential solar energy systems and reduce to10% for all others at the end of 2016,7 providingutilities with an incentive to complete projectsin time to take advantage of the tax credit at itsfull 30% value.

Though annual residential capacity additionshave remained small compared with utility-scale projects, the residential market segment

has grown at a compound annual growth rateof 58% since 2010. It remains a strong driver ofnational residential solar growth. As of Q3 2015,the California residential solar market segmentaccounted for nearly 50% of all cumulativeresidential solar capacity in the United States.8The success of this market segment wasspurred by a statewide solar rebate program,falling installed costs for solar, and a net energymetering (NEM) policy that valued net excesssolar generation at retail utility rates.

Throughout 2015 and into early 2016, however,there was some uncertainty as to what degreeNEM would remain as strong a driver of behind-the-meter solar, due to California Public UtilitiesCommission (CPUC) proceedings on residentialrate reform. In July of last year, CPUC regulatorsapproved a plan to reduce the number ofelectricity rate tiers (based on total monthlyconsumption) from four down to two plus asuper-user electric surcharge on the highest

energy users. The plan also provides for theroll-out of time of use (TOU) rates which varywith demand throughout a single day withall residential customers being defaulted ontoTOU rates starting in 2019. Regulators alsodeferred a decision on imposing ixed monthlycharges on customers. In lieu of a ixed chargethe Commission has instituted a minimum bill.The Commission will revisit ixed charges in

2016. While the new structure is expected toreduce the inancial value of an investment insolar by higher energy users, it has the potentialto increase the beneits to lower energy users.10

January 2016 brought the CPUCs inal decision

on a successor NEM tariff which will charge newcustomers a modest one-time interconnectionfee, retain the valuation of net excess generationat the utility retail rate, charge non-bypassablecharges for all imports from the grid ratherthan on net energy usage, and require thesecustomers to quickly move over to TOU rates.The CPUC will re-examine this revised NEMpolicy in 2019, when it will seek to address thevaluation of distributed energy resource morebroadly and incorporate these values into a newplan for grid investments.

The non-residential projects comprise thesmallest of the three market segments, the350 MW of new capacity expected in 2015represents one-third of all non-residentialsolar capacity estimated to have been installedin the nation last year. To further put this intoperspective, projected 2015 capacity additionsin the California non-residential market segmentequal or exceed the cumulative capacity acrossall market segments in each of 39 states.11Continued growth in this market segmentis expected to be driven by a diverse set ofprojects, including smaller non-residential andcommunity shared solar projects.12California isone of four states (with Colorado, Massachusetts,and Minnesota) that are collectively expectedto account for over 80% of all new communityshared solar projects over the next two years.13

As of November 2015, theCalifornia solar industryemployed 75,598 solarworkers, representing3 8 . 2 % g r o w t h i nemployment over theprevious year.


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ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA SOLAR JOBS CENSUS 2015This report includes information about all typesof California companies engaged in the analysis,research and development, production, sales,installation, and use of all solar technologies ranging from solar photovoltaics (PV), toconcentrating solar power (CSP), to solar waterheating systems for the residential, commercial,industrial, and utility market segments.

The indings presented herein are based onrigorous survey efforts throughout the monthsof September, October, and November 2015 thatinclude telephone calls and emails to known andpotential solar establishments across California.Unlike economic impact models that generateemployment estimates based on economicdata or jobs-per-megawatt (or jobs-per-dollar)assumptions, The Solar Foundations Solar Jobs

Census series provides statistically valid andcurrent data gathered from actual employers.This analysis also purposefully avoids artiiciallyinlating its results with questionable multipliereffects often found in analyses of otherindustries.

The number of establishments included in thisreport include all businesses that conduct anysolar activity. This includes many businessesthat play a very small part in a solar project,or provide inancing, legal services, or othersupport services to solar irms. Employment,however, is only counted for workers that spendat least 50% of their time on solar.

A full explanation of this methodology can befound on page 21 of this report.

Last years expansion of the state RPSrequirement from 33% of retail sales fromrenewables by 2020 to 50% by 2030 can beexpected to support additional growth in allmarket segments.14

With most of the states most pressing solarpolicy challenges resolved at least for the next

few years and federal solar incentives extendedinto the beginning of the next decade, it is nosurprise that solar employers remain optimisticabout growth. By the end of 2016, solarcompanies across California are expected toemploy an additional 14,288 solar workers (at

an annual growth rate of 18.9%) for a total solarworkforce of nearly 90,000.15

Photo by Roxie Brown, TSF


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Key Data Points

Projected Solar

Jobs Growth, 2016

14,318(18.9%)

Capacity Installed in

2015 thru Q3 (MW)17

2,170.1

CALIFORNIA

SOLAR JOBSTotal Solar Jobs, 2015

75,598Cumulative Installed

Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)16

12,146.8Detailed employment and demographic data for California's legislative districts, counties, and metropolitan statistical ar-

eas can be found in the appendix of this report and on The Solar Foundations interactive jobs map at SolarStates.org.
http://solarstates.org/http://solarstates.org/


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WORKFORCEOVERVIEW

Sales & Distribution Jobs

11,223

Project Development Jobs

8,979

Other Jobs

3,617

Manufacturing Jobs

11,183

Installation Jobs

40,597The California solar industry employs 75,598

solar workers at 13,280 establishmentsthroughout the state, is ranked 1st nationallyin jobs, and 2nd in solar jobs as a share of thestates total employment. The solar workforcein the state expanded by 38.2% since Census2014, representing a net gain of 20,908 solarworkers; California added more than double thenumber of new solar jobs in 2015 as projectedin 2014. Employers expect a continuation ofthis trend in 2016, adding approximately

14,318 new solar workers to payrolls over

the next 12 months a growth rate of 18.9% while the states workforce as a whole is

projected to grow only 1.1% during the same

period.18

Over half (53.7%) of California solar workersare employed at installation irms. Themanufacturing and sales and distribution sectorsrepresent the second-largest employmentsector in the state, accounting for 14.8% ofsolar workers each. Project developmentcompanies employ 11.9% of Californias solarworkers, with businesses and organizations inthe Other category including positions inthe nonproit sector, government, and academia representing the remaining (4.8%) of theCalifornia solar workforce.

47,223

54,690

75,598

89,886

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

2013 2014 2015 2016E

California Solar Jobs, 2013 - 2016E


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C S

W

C Ov

Epyt19U.S. S

W

W 27.7% 45.4% 23.8%

A-A 4.4% 5.5% 5.1%

A P

I12.2% 14.9% 8.6%

Lt Hp 14.4% 36.1% 11.3%

O W (55+) 17.5% 21.1% 18.6%

U Mb 10.0% - 5.5%

Vt th U.S. A

F9.2% 4.6% 8.1%

Approximately 56% of the states 75,598 solarworkers support projects in the residentialmarket segment, with 21% focused on non-residential projects and 23% on utility-scaleinstallations. Though the utility-scale marketsegment represented the majority of new solar

PV capacity in 2015 (54%), these projects are theleast labor-intensive, meaning fewer workersare required to install the same amount of solarcapacity as in the residential or non-residentialmarket segments.

The California solar workforce is generallyless diverse than the states workforce asa whole, with women (27.7%), African-Americans (4.4%), Asian or Paciic Islanders(12.2%), Latino/Hispanic workers (14.4%),

and older workers (17.5%) all relativelyunderrepresented. However, participationin the solar industry among many of thesedemographic groups has increased year-over-year. In 2014, only 23.7% of solar workers werewomen (a four percentage point increase),10.8% were Asian or Paciic Islanders (versus12.2% in 2015) and 6.1% were Veterans of the

U.S. Armed Forces (compared with 9.2%). Inaddition, many of these otherwise underserveddemographics women, Asian or PaciicIslanders, Latino/Hispanic workers, unionmembers, and veterans are represented in thestate solar workforce at higher rates than their

counterparts in the solar industry nationwide.

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces represent auniquely valuable source of human capital forsolar employers. With a proven work ethic andpracticed discipline, veterans bring a wealthof readily transferable skills and leadershipacumen to the industry. Through the SolarReady Vets program, the U.S. Department ofEnergy is helping the industry capitalize onthis resource by facilitating the transition from

military service to employment in the civiliansolar workforce.20 California solar irmsclearly understand this value proposition,

with veterans comprising 9.2% of the states

solar workforce, compared to just 4.6% of

the states total workforce and 8.1% of the

solar workforce nationally.


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PtC

M Wg

P Dv

M Wg

U.S.

M Wg

S It $22.00 $22.00 $21.00

S S Rpttv $31.25 $28.85 $28.85

S Syt Dg $30.00 $30.00 $26.92

S Aby W $21.50 $20.00 $18.00

24.2%

24.0%

23.2%

51.7%

52.7%

54.7%

24.2%

23.3%

22.0%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

National

Pacific

California

Difficulty Hiring in California

Not Difficult Somewhat Difficult Very Difficult

Wages paid by irms in the California solarindustry equaled or exceeded those paid by solaremployers across the other states comprisingthe U.S. Census Bureaus Paciic Division21 andexceeded national industry averages for allpositions studied. Solar installers in the stateare among the highest paid in the country at$22.00 per hour, and solar sales representatives,system designers, and assembly workers all

receive hourly wages around two or threedollars higher than the national median.

Solar employers in California experience aslightly higher level of dificulty on averageinding qualiied candidates to ill openingson their payrolls than other solar irms in thePaciic Division and across the country.


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Just over half (53%) of California solar irmsreported that they receive all of their revenuesfrom solar activities, which is higher than thenational average of 48.2%. Another 23.8%reported that they receive less than half of theirrevenues from solar activities, compared to28.5% nationally. A signiicantly larger portionof the states solar irms (75%) work primarilywith in-state customers than solar irmsnationally (65.6%), though a much smallerportion (1.9%) work primarily with customersin a bordering state than solar irms nationally(5.0%). As the nations single largest state solar

market, it is not surprising that much of thesolar employment in California is focused on in-state activity.

As part of the 2015 Census effort, employerswere asked about the impacts of speciic

existing, pending and proposed policies ontheir business prospects. California employersoverwhelmingly cite the federal investmenttax credit (ITC) as substantially contributing totheir irms success, with 48.5% of respondentsreferring to it directly. The ITC response is nearlydouble the proportion citing the second-mostfavored policy, the states renewable energystandard, at 26.5%.

The following pages include detailed breakdownsof workforce data by sector Installation,Manufacturing, Sales & Distribution, Project

Development and Other - for the California solarindustry.

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%

Net Metering

Utility Rebates

EPA Clean Power Plan

Other Tax Exemptions, Credits, & Rebates

State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Businesses Citing Policies Contributing to Success

CA National

22


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INSTALLATION

The installation sector isthe largest sector of theU.S. solar industry and iscomposed of companies thatprimarily install PV, solar

water heating, and othersolar energy technologies.

Firms in this sector are responsible for 53.7%of all solar employment in California, employing40,597 solar workers. This represents a dramaticincrease of 29% since 2014, when irms in thesector employed 31,470 workers.

Change Since 2014

+9,127

Establishments

8,350

Solar Installer

Median Wage

$22/hr

Rate of Change

Since 2014

29.0%

Sector Jobs

40,597

26,052

31,470

40,597

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

2013 2014 2015

CA Installation Jobs,

2013 - 2015


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California installation irms report greaterlevels of dificulty inding qualiied candidatesto ill open positions than irms in other sectorsof the states solar industry, but approximatelythe same level of dificulty as other irms in theinstallation sector nationwide.

A signiicantly larger percentage of Californiainstallation irms (87.2%) work primarily with

in-state customers than their counterparts in

the installation sector nationwide (81.5%).Similarly, a larger percentage of installationirms in the state are pure play solar businesses,receiving 100% of their revenue from solaractivities, than installation irms across thecountry. This consolidation, both of businessactivity and customer base, may be another signof employer conidence in the California solarmarket.

19.7%

18.6%

54.2%

55.9%

26.0%

25.4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Installation

CA Installation

Installation Sector - Difficulty Hiring


11.7%

13.2%

7.2%

6.3%

22.1%

16.0%

Pure Plays, 59.0%

Pure Plays, 64.6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Installation

CA Installation

Installation Sector - % Revenues from Solar

1-24% 25-49% 50-99% Pure Plays


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MANUFACTURING

Solar manufacturers producea variety of products andcomponents for domestic andinternational markets.

In 2015, the California solar manufacturingsector grew slightly (5.4%, or approximately580 solar workers), though at a greater pacethan was observed the previous year (just under1.0%). The manufacturing sector is responsiblefor 14.8% of all solar employment in California,employing 11,183 solar workers.

Change Since 2014

+577

Establishments

1,385

Solar System Designer

Median Wage

$21.50/hr

Rate of Growth

Since 2014

5.4%

Sector Jobs

11,183

10,504 10,606 11,183

0

2,0004,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2013 2014 2015

CA Manufacturing Jobs,

2013 - 2015


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Solar manufacturers in the state report a similarlevels of dificulty inding qualiied candidates toill open positions as irms in the manufacturingsector nationwide.

A larger percentage of manufacturing irmsin the state are pure play solar businesses,

receiving 100% of their revenue from solaractivities, than manufacturing irms acrossthe country. Just over 77% of California solarmanufacturing irms receive at least half of theirrevenues from solar, compared with only 56%at the national level.

24.6%

19.4%

55.3%

66.7%

20.2%

13.9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Manufacturing

CA Manufacturing

Manufacturing Sector - Difficulty Hiring


26.0%

16.7%

8.3%

6.3%

16.0%

25.0%

Pure Plays, 49.7%

Pure Plays, 52.1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Manufacturing

CA Manufacturing

Manufacturing Sector - % Revenues from Solar

1-24% 25-49% 50-99% Pure Plays


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SALES &

DISTRIBUTION

Sales & distribution firmsprimarily sell (but do notinstall) solar goods andservices to customers and/or warehouse and distributesolar goods to/ for installers.

Employment in this sector saw a sharp increasein 2015; the 3,532 new sales and distributionsolar workers represent nearly 50% growthover the previous year.

Change Since 2014

+3,532

Establishments

715


Median Wage

$31.25/hr

Rate of Growth

Since 2014

45.9%

Sector Jobs

11,223

5,877

7,691

11,223

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2013 2014 2015

CA Sales & Distribution Jobs,

2013 - 2015


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Employers in the sales and distribution sectorexperienced considerably less difficulty in hiringnew solar workers than their peers at the nationallevel.

Over 90% of California sales and distribution firmsreceive a majority of their revenues from solar. Bycomparison, just over 80% of these firms receiveat least 50% of their revenues from solar at thenational level

24.7%

30.4%

51.9%

58.7%

23.4%

10.9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Sales & Distribution

CA Sales & Distribution

Sales & Distribution Sector - Difficulty Hiring


11.7%

6.4%

7.8%

2.6%

27.6%

26.9%

Pure Plays, 52.9%

Pure Plays, 64.1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Sales & Distribution

CA Sales & Distribution

Sales & Distribution Sector - % Revenues from Solar

1-24% 25-49% 50-99% Pure Plays


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PROJECT

DEVELOPMENT

The project developmentsector includes companiesthat plan, design and buildlarge commercial- andutility-scale solar projects.

Employment in this sector nearly tripled in 2015,with a net increase of nearly 6,000 solar workersby the end of the year.

Such growth may have been driven by thelooming reduction of the federal ITC from 30%to 10% of qualiied project costs at the end of2016, spurring a lurry of development activityto ensure projects would come online in time to

receive the higher credit value.

Change Since 2014

+5,968

Establishments

1,046


Median Wage

$30/hr

Rate of Growth

Since 2014

198.2%

Sector Jobs

8,979

2,3693,011

8,979

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

2013 2014 2015

CA Project Development Jobs,

2013 - 2015


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California project developers report similarlevels of dificulty inding qualiied candidatesto ill openings on their payrolls than irms onaverage across the states solar industry morebroadly, as well as other irms in the projectdevelopment sector nationwide.

A significantly larger percentage of California

project development firms (82.8%) work primarily

with in-state customers than their counterpartsin the project development sector nationwide(74.9%), likely due to the states exceptionally largeutility-scale market segment. Similarly, a largerpercentage of project development firms in thestate are pure play solar businesses, receiving 100%of their revenue from solar activities, than projectdevelopment firms across the country.

21.4%

21.1%

54.1%

55.8%

24.5%

23.1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Project Development

CA Project Development

Project Development Sector - Difficulty Hiring


14.5%

13.2%

7.8%

6.6%

23.1%

20.3%

Pure Plays, 54.6%

Pure Plays, 59.9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. Project Development

CA Project Development

Project Development Sector - % Revenues from Solar

1-24% 25-49% 50-99% Pure Plays


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OTHER

Other firms active insolar are primarily researchand development firms,nonprofits, governmentagencies, academic researchcenters, etc.

The workforce in this sector nearly doubled insize in 2015, with the addition of over 1,700 newsolar workers.

Change Since 2014

+1,705

Establishments

1,811


Median Wage

$21.50/hr

Rate of Growth

Since 2014

89.2%

Sector Jobs

3,617

2,421

1,912

3,617

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

2013 2014 2015

CA "Other" Jobs,

2013 - 2015


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Though irms in the other sector reportexperiencing considerably more dificulty inilling open positions than the peers at thenational level. Nearly 77% of California irmsreport at least some dificulty, comparedwith just over 72% nationwide. Except forsales and distribution irms, employers in the

other sector seem to have an easier time with

identifying and recruiting new staff than otherCalifornia sectors.

A larger percentage of other irms in Californiaderive at least half of their revenues from solaractivities (nearly 70%) than similar irms at thenational level (66.5%).

27.9%

23.1%

53.5%

52.3%

18.6%

24.6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. "Other"

CA "Other"

"Other" Sector - Difficulty Hiring


23.4%

19.5%

10.1%

10.6%

24.3%

26.5%

Pure Plays, 42.2%

Pure Plays, 43.4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

U.S. "Other"

CA "Other"

"Other" Sector -% Revenues from Solar

1-24% 25-49% 50-99% Pure Plays


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CONCLUSIONThe California solar industry maintained itsposition as the national leader in annual installed

capacity in 2015. Given the strong relationship

between solar capacity and employment, thiscontinued success has made California thesingle largest solar employer among the states,accounting for approximately 36% of all solarworkers in the United States. As in previousyears, this growth was primarily driven by theutility market segment which represented justover 54% of new solar capacity installed duringthe year. The ever-maturing solar industry inthe state has allowed for signiicant year-over-year growth in both the residential and non-

residential market segments.

Though the California solar industry is projectedto have installed less new solar capacityyear-over-year in 2015 for the irst time thisdecade, the solar employment data presentedherein coupled with positive capacity growthprojections for the foreseeable future painta picture of a vibrant, strong, and growingindustry. With the states most pressing andimmediate solar policy challenges put to bed

for the next few years, and with the federal ITCextended through 2021, it appears that solaremployers throughout the state have enoughcertainty to plan their investments and growfor the near term. As such, California solar

employers remain as optimistic about growthas ever, expecting to add nearly 14,300 jobs in2016 (representing annual growth of 18.9%).

Such growth would see the California solarworkforce in 2016 approach 90,000 solarworkers nearly as many as were employed inthe entire nation at the beginning of the decade.

In order to sustain this future growth, it isessential that California employers have readyaccess to quality talent and skilled labor orenhance their on-the-job training offerings. Toachieve this, more focused and comprehensivesolar training efforts in-house, in-state,

and across the country must be suficientlyemphasized. These efforts would reduce theindustrys talent acquisition, training, andretention costs, increasing eficiency across thesolar value chain, and ultimately reducing costsfor California solar customers.

This research shows that the California solarindustry is a source of economic opportunity,with the potential to create jobs that pay livingwages and are largely available to individuals

of different backgrounds from across the state.Only regular reexaminations of the states solarindustry, its workforce, and the employmentopportunities presented herein will conirmthis potential is realized in years to come.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons,Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Headquarters, San Diegim CA


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The Solar Jobs Censusmethodology is the most

closely aligned with the Bureau of Labor Statis-tics (BLS) methodology for its Quarterly Cen-sus of Employment and Wages (QCEW) andCurrent Employment Statistics (CES). Like BLS,this study uses survey questionnaires and em-ployer-reported data, though ours are adminis-tered by phone and web, as opposed to mail.

Also like BLS, we develop a hierarchy of vari-ous categories that represent solar value chainactivities (within their broader NAICS frame-

work), develop representative sample frames,and use statistical analysis and extrapolation ina very similar manner to BLS. We also constrainour universe of establishments by relying onthe most recent data from the BLS or the statedepartments of labor, depending on which iscollected most recently. We believe that the cat-egories that we have developed could be read-ily adopted by BLS should it choose to begin toquantify solar employment in its QCEW and CES

series.The results from the overall 2015 Censuseffortare based on rigorous survey efforts that include287,962 telephone calls and over 44,220 emailsto known and potential energy establishmentsacross the United States, resulting in a total of2,350 full completions for solar establishmentsin the U.S. Unlike economic impact models thatgenerate employment estimates based on eco-nomic data or jobs-per-megawatt (or jobs-per-

dollar) assumptions, the Solar Jobs Census se-ries provides statistically valid and current datagathered from actual employers.

The survey was administered to a known uni-verse of energy employers that includes 68,494establishments and is derived from the SolarEnergy Industry Associations National SolarDatabase, as well as other public and private

sources. Of these establishments, 2,118 identi-

ied as solar and completed full or substantiallycompleted surveys.

The survey was also administered to a strati-ied, clustered, random sampling from variousindustries that are potentially energy-related(unknown universe) that include a total of ap-proximately 314,000 establishments nation-wide. After an extensive cleaning and de-dupli-cation process, a sampling plan was developedthat gathered information on the level of solar

activity (including none) from 12,765 establish-ments. Of these, 327 establishments qualiiedas solar establishments and completed full sur-veys. The sampling rigor in the known and un-known universes provides a margin of error forestablishment counts at +/-0.85% and employ-ment at +/-1.99% at a 95% conidence interval.

This level of national sampling rigor is mirroredat the state level. In addition to the known Cen-sus, the clustered sampling in the unknown

universe is representative relative to establish-ment totals by size in each of the 50 states andthe District of Columbia. This ensures that eachstates employment estimates are accurate witha maximum margin of error under +/-5% at a95% conidence interval.

Due to the number of qualifying responses,some smaller states have higher margins of er-ror for non-employment related questions, suchas workforce and policy related questions, due

to the small universe of solar establishments ineach state. As a result, some state-level, non-em-ployment data is reported using regional aver-ages or have footnotes denoting small responsesizes.

APPENDIX

STATE CENSUS METHODOLOGY AND DATA SOURCES


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GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF DATA

In addition to the statewide results detailed

herein, the Solar Jobs Census 2015 effort

compiled comprehensive information about thedistribution of solar workers across each state.

The Solar Jobs Census 2015 companion website,

SolarStates.org,houses solar jobs data for each

state and the District of Columbia. Here, the

employment data have been broken out and

represented in map form at the state, federal

congressional district, state legislative district,

metropolitan statistical area, and countylevels. What follows are tables presenting

the employment counts and demographic

breakdowns of the workforce at each speciied

level of granularity previously mentioned.

District TotalEmployment

Women African-American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino orHispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

UnionMembers

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

1 2,990 1,020 187 369 454 531 312 195

2 3,705 1,264 232 457 563 658 386 241

3 2,271 775 142 280 345 403 237 148

4 2,756 940 172 340 419 489 287 179

5 1,850 631 116 228 281 328 193 120

6 1,823 622 114 225 277 324 190 119

7 1,174 400 73 145 178 208 122 76

8 1,116 381 70 138 170 198 116 73

9 1,284 438 80 158 195 228 134 84

10 2,049 558 87 121 504 260 633 307

11 1,762 601 110 217 268 313 184 115

12 1,928 658 121 238 293 342 201 126

13 2,273 775 142 280 345 403 237 148

14 2,375 810 149 293 361 422 248 155

15 1,033 352 65 127 157 183 108 67

16 1,119 382 70 138 170 199 117 73

17 1,914 653 120 236 291 340 200 125

18 902 308 56 111 137 160 94 5919 935 319 58 115 142 166 97 61

20 486 166 30 60 74 86 51 32

21 657 224 41 81 100 117 68 43

22 692 236 43 85 105 123 72 45

23 987 162 10 44 176 146 18 134

24 866 296 54 107 132 154 90 56

25 556 91 6 25 99 82 10 75

26 449 74 5 20 80 66 8 61

CALIFORNIA FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
http://solarstates.org/http://solarstates.org/


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DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

1 3,719 1,275 235 472 554 666 379 238

2 2,437 836 154 309 363 436 248 156

3 2,316 383 24 106 405 344 41 308

4 2,198 483 71 173 200 486 6 117

5 1,000 165 10 46 175 149 18 133

6 892 244 38 54 215 114 269 132

7 992 272 43 60 239 127 299 146

8 1,733 475 74 106 418 222 523 256

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE

DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

27 614 101 6 27 109 91 11 83

28 1,757 289 18 78 313 259 32 238

29 505 83 5 22 90 75 9 68

30 903 148 9 40 161 133 17 122

31 454 107 13 73 66 86 89 57

32 919 216 27 148 134 174 181 115

33 1,038 170 11 46 185 153 19 140

34 974 223 27 199 77 187 73 106

35 1,312 300 36 269 104 252 98 143

36 1,484 244 15 66 265 219 27 201

37 1,558 357 43 319 124 299 116 169

38 1,938 444 54 397 154 372 145 211

39 2,056 470 57 421 164 395 154 22340 2,758 631 76 565 220 530 206 300

41 3,572 817 99 732 284 686 267 388

42 849 185 27 65 79 186 2 46

43 2,207 505 61 452 176 424 165 240

44 725 158 23 56 67 159 2 39

45 3,599 786 115 276 334 790 9 195

46 391 64 4 17 70 58 7 53

47 608 100 6 27 108 90 11 82

48 716 118 7 32 128 106 13 97

49 934 254 40 55 230 118 288 140

50 802 218 34 48 197 102 248 120

51 609 166 26 36 150 77 188 91

52 1,456 397 62 86 358 185 450 218

53 907 247 39 54 223 115 280 136


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DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

9 3,331 913 143 203 803 426 1,005 492

10 3,857 1,323 244 489 574 691 393 247

11 3,571 1,225 225 453 532 639 364 229

12 1,637 561 103 208 244 293 167 105

13 3,165 1,086 200 402 471 567 322 203

14 1,950 669 123 247 290 349 199 125

15 1,881 645 119 239 280 337 192 120

16 1,585 544 100 201 236 284 161 101

17 2,297 788 145 291 342 411 234 147

18 2,998 1,028 189 380 446 537 305 192

19 1,235 424 78 157 184 221 126 79

20 955 328 60 121 142 171 97 61

21 1,038 356 66 132 155 186 106 6622 1,248 428 79 158 186 223 127 80

23 600 206 38 76 89 107 61 38

24 2,970 652 96 234 270 657 7 158

25 791 271 50 100 118 142 81 51

26 1,122 307 48 68 271 144 338 166

27 1,185 196 12 54 207 176 21 158

28 1,157 191 12 53 202 172 21 154

29 960 159 10 44 168 143 17 128

30 1,011 239 30 168 145 193 194 125

31 1,456 241 15 66 254 217 26 194

32 1,741 400 49 367 136 337 127 186

33 1,228 203 13 56 215 183 22 163

34 2,337 538 65 492 182 452 170 250

35 3,020 695 84 636 236 585 220 323

36 3,680 847 103 775 287 713 268 393

37 3,167 729 88 667 247 613 231 338

38 1,462 336 41 308 114 283 107 156

39 1,146 189 12 52 200 170 20 152

40 531 88 5 24 93 79 9 71

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY

DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

1 1,102 190 12 47 200 163 19 137

2 686 119 8 29 124 101 12 86

3 372 64 4 16 67 55 6 46


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DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

4 1,905 329 21 81 346 281 32 238

5 649 112 7 28 118 96 11 81

6 1,667 412 54 259 248 316 304 193

7 1,205 298 39 187 179 229 220 140

8 169 42 5 26 25 32 31 20

9 129 32 4 20 19 25 24 15

10 1,389 335 43 274 113 267 96 139

11 219 38 2 9 40 32 4 27

12 514 89 6 22 93 76 9 64

13 387 67 4 17 70 57 7 48

14 1,686 406 52 332 137 324 116 169

15 1,995 480 61 393 162 383 138 200

16 658 158 20 130 53 126 45 6617 3,537 852 108 697 286 680 244 354

18 1,565 377 48 309 127 301 108 157

19 516 124 16 102 42 99 36 52

20 1,326 319 41 261 107 255 92 133

21 296 51 3 13 54 44 5 37

22 2,680 645 82 528 217 515 185 269

23 811 140 9 35 147 120 14 101

24 2,143 516 66 422 173 412 148 215

25 3,532 850 108 696 286 679 244 354

26 579 100 7 25 105 85 10 72

27 411 99 13 81 33 79 28 41

28 777 187 24 153 63 149 54 78

29 1,258 289 45 93 119 276 3 63

30 355 82 13 26 33 78 1 18

31 164 28 2 7 30 24 3 21

32 649 186 31 37 162 82 185 90

33 513 89 6 22 93 76 9 64

34 316 55 4 13 57 47 5 39

35 1,884 433 67 139 178 414 4 94

36 640 184 30 37 160 81 183 89

37 2,191 504 78 162 207 481 5 110

38 1,579 567 109 188 244 281 152 95

39 683 245 47 81 106 121 66 41

40 588 169 28 34 147 75 168 81

41 1,350 387 64 77 338 171 386 187

42 1,122 322 53 64 281 143 321 155

43 1,056 379 73 125 163 188 102 63


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DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

44 483 173 33 57 75 86 47 29

45 1,180 423 82 140 182 210 114 71

46 360 129 25 43 56 64 35 22

47 312 89 15 18 78 40 89 43

48 728 261 50 86 113 129 70 44

49 431 155 30 51 67 77 42 26

50 1,441 517 100 171 223 256 139 86

51 641 230 44 76 99 114 62 38

52 872 250 41 50 218 111 249 121

53 637 229 44 76 98 113 61 38

54 659 237 46 78 102 117 64 40

55 932 267 44 53 233 118 266 129

56 206 36 2 9 37 30 3 2657 763 274 53 91 118 136 74 46

58 279 100 19 33 43 50 27 17

59 138 50 10 16 21 25 13 8

60 406 116 19 23 102 52 116 56

61 1,029 295 48 59 258 131 294 142

62 884 317 61 105 137 157 85 53

63 498 179 34 59 77 89 48 30

64 572 205 40 68 88 102 55 34

65 683 245 47 81 106 121 66 41

66 489 176 34 58 76 87 47 29

67 619 178 29 35 155 79 177 86

68 1,956 702 135 232 302 347 189 117

69 480 172 33 57 74 85 46 29

70 703 252 49 84 109 125 68 42

71 818 141 9 35 148 121 14 102

72 502 180 35 60 78 89 48 30

73 687 247 48 82 106 122 66 41

74 871 313 60 103 135 155 84 52

75 1,302 373 61 74 326 165 372 180

76 947 340 66 112 146 168 91 57

77 2,754 988 190 327 426 489 266 165

78 1,660 596 115 197 257 295 160 100

79 403 145 28 48 62 72 39 24

80 17 6 1 2 3 3 2 1


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Metropolitan

Statistical Area

Total

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino

or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Bakersield, CA 867 145 9 34 166 125 16 115

CA NONMETRO-POLITAN AREA

1,285 215 14 51 246 186 23 170

Chico, CA 411 69 4 16 79 59 7 54

El Centro, CA 165 28 2 7 32 24 3 22

Fresno, CA 942 157 10 37 181 136 17 125

Hanford-Corcor-

an, CA127 35 6 7 34 16 38 19

Los Angeles-

Long Beach-

Santa Ana, CA

21,263 7,369 1,380 2,327 3,474 3,697 2,169 1,354

Madera, CA 153 26 2 6 29 22 3 20

Merced, CA 234 39 2 9 45 34 4 31

Modesto, CA 432 72 5 17 83 62 8 57

Napa, CA 121 20 1 5 23 17 2 16

Oxnard-

Thousand Oaks-

Ventura, CA

1,378 478 89 151 225 240 141 88

Redding, CA 210 35 2 8 40 30 4 28

Riverside-San

Bernardino-

Ontario, CA

5,534 1,532 244 291 1,464 688 1,672 812

Sacramento-Arden-

Arcade-

Roseville, CA

3,732 890 113 534 586 693 719 458

Salinas, CA 519 115 17 35 52 111 1 27

San Diego-

Carlsbad-

San Marcos, CA

8,402 2,912 545 919 1,373 1,461 857 535

San Francisco-

Oakland-

Fremont, CA

15,631 3,633 449 2,840 1,338 2,939 1,142 1,661

San Jose-Sunny-

vale-Santa Clara,

CA6,642 1,544 191 1,207 568 1,249 485 706

San Luis Obispo-

Paso Robles, CA1,437 319 48 98 143 309 4 76

Santa Barbara-

Santa Maria-

Goleta, CA

1,636 363 54 111 163 351 4 87

Santa Cruz-Wat-

sonville, CA656 146 22 45 65 141 2 35

CALIFORNIA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS


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CountyTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Alameda 4,619 1,076 133 845 394 870 341 490Alpine 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Amador 51 8 1 2 10 7 1 7

Butte 411 69 4 16 79 59 7 54

Calaveras 58 10 1 2 11 8 1 8

Colusa 38 6 0 2 7 6 1 5

Contra Costa 2,751 641 79 503 235 518 203 292

Del Norte 32 5 0 1 6 5 1 4

El Dorado 213 36 2 8 41 31 4 28

Fresno 937 157 10 37 179 136 17 124

Glenn 48 8 1 2 9 7 1 6

Humboldt 178 30 2 7 34 26 3 24

Imperial 168 28 2 7 32 24 3 22

Inyo 49 8 1 2 9 7 1 6

Kern 866 145 9 34 166 125 16 114

Kings 127 35 6 7 33 16 39 19

Lake 69 11 1 3 13 10 1 9

Lassen 46 8 0 2 9 7 1 6

Los Angeles 15,142 5,257 986 1,668 2,468 2,638 1,561 962

Madera 159 27 2 6 30 23 3 21

Marin 1,252 292 36 229 107 236 92 133

Mariposa 36 6 0 1 7 5 1 5

Mendocino 141 24 1 6 27 20 3 19

Merced 234 39 2 9 45 34 4 31

Modoc 32 5 0 1 6 5 1 4

Mono 34 6 0 1 7 5 1 5

Monterey 519 115 17 36 52 112 1 27

Napa 121 20 1 5 23 18 2 16

Metropolitan

Statistical Area

Total

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino

or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Santa Rosa-

Petaluma, CA2,418 562 69 439 207 455 177 257

Stockton, CA 586 98 6 23 112 85 10 78

Vallejo-Fairield,

CA231 39 2 9 44 33 4 31

Visalia-

Porterville, CA453 76 5 18 87 65 8 60

Yuba City, CA 133 22 1 5 25 19 2 18

CALIFORNIA COUNTIES


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CountyTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Nevada 158 26 2 6 30 23 3 21

Orange 6,129 2,128 399 675 999 1,068 632 390

Placer 1,360 325 41 196 213 253 265 167Plumas 50 8 1 2 10 7 1 7

Riverside 3,332 924 148 176 880 415 1,017 488

Sacramento 1,814 433 55 261 284 337 353 222

San Benito 72 16 2 5 7 16 0 4

San

Bernardino2,283 633 101 121 603 284 697 334

San Diego 8,336 2,895 543 918 1,359 1,452 859 530

San

Francisco3,686 858 106 674 315 694 272 391

San Joaquin 586 98 6 23 112 85 11 77

San Luis

Obispo1,438 320 48 98 143 310 4 76

San Mateo 3,221 750 93 589 275 607 238 342

Santa

Barbara1,637 364 55 112 163 353 4 87

Santa Clara 6,757 1,574 195 1,236 577 1,273 499 717

Santa Cruz 570 127 19 39 57 123 1 30

Shasta 198 33 2 8 38 29 4 26

Sierra 9 1 0 0 2 1 0 1

Siskiyou 93 15 1 4 18 13 2 12

Solano 231 39 2 9 44 33 4 31

Sonoma 2,419 563 70 442 207 456 179 257

Stanislaus 429 72 5 17 82 62 8 57

Sutter 86 14 1 3 17 13 2 11

Tehama 72 12 1 3 14 10 1 10

Trinity 33 6 0 1 6 5 1 4

Tulare 454 76 5 18 87 66 8 60

Tuolumne 82 14 1 3 16 12 1 11

Ventura 1,379 479 90 152 225 240 142 88

Yolo 305 51 3 12 58 44 6 40Yuba 47 8 1 2 9 7 1 6


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ENDNOTES

1. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

2. Id.

3. The California Solar Jobs Census 2014 can be found at www.TSFcensus.org.

4. The Solar Foundation. (2010). National Solar Jobs Census 2010.

5. The residential, non-residential, and utility-scale market segments are deined by SEIA based on the offtaker ofthe electricity their systems generate, though they can generally be used interchangeably with small-scale (i.e.single-family household rooftop systems, no more than a handful of kilowatts), medium-scale (i.e. multi-unit,commercial, or government rooftop system), and large-scale (i.e. ground-mounted or very large rooftop systemsranging from several hundred kilowatts to several hundred megawatts in capacity).


7. In December 2015, Congress extended the ITC for solar technologies through 2021, with gradual reductions inthe credit percentage.


9. St. John, J. (2015, July 3). Breaking: California Reaches Compromise on Utility Residential Rate Reform.Retrieved January 30, 2016 from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Breaking-California-Reaches-

Compromise-on-Utility-Residential-Rate-Reform10. St. John, J. (2016, January 28). Breaking: Californias 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-Net-Metering-2.0-Decision-Rooftop-Solar-to-Keep-Retail-Payme


12. Id.

13. Munsell, M. (2015, June 23). US Community Solar Market to Grow Fivefold in 2015, Top 500 MW in 2020.Retrieved January 30, 2016 from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-community-solar-market-to-grow-ivefold-in-2015-top-500-mw-in-2020

14. Roselund, C. (2015, October 7). California Governor Brown signs 50% renewable portfolio standard into law.Retrieved January 30, 2016 from http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/california-governor-brown-signs-50-renewable-portfolio-standard-into-law_100021447/

15. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that mayhave since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.


17. Id.

18. JobsEQ 2015Q3

19. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by state 2014Annual Averages and Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by state 2014 Annual Averages.Found at: http://www.bls.gov/

20. See, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Ready Vets. Available at: http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vets

21. U.S Census Bureau, Geographic Terms and Concepts - Census Divisions and Census Regions. Found at: https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.html

22. It is important to note that the legislative debate around the impending expiration of the ITC was in full swingduring the time of the survey, likely affecting the prioritization of policies from the perspective of employers andpotentially depressing response rates for deployment-focused policies, such as utility rebates and net metering.

COPYRIGHT NOTICEUnless otherwise noted, all design, text, graphics, and the selection and arrangement thereof are Copyright February 2016 by The Solar Foundationand BW Research Partnership. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials in this report, including reproduction, modiication, distribution, orrepublication, without the prior written consent of The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership, is strictly prohibited.

For questions about this report, please contact Andrea Luecke at The Solar Foundation, [email protected].

The Solar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonproit and relies on public support. To learn more about supporting The Solar Foundations work, go towww.TheSolarFoundation.org/donate/
http://www.tsfcensus.org/http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Breaking-California-Reaches-Compromise-on-Utility-Residential-Rate-Reformhttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Breaking-California-Reaches-Compromise-on-Utility-Residential-Rate-Reformhttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Californias-Net-Metering-2.0-Decision-Rooftop-Solar-to-Keep-Retail-Paymehttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Californias-Net-Metering-2.0-Decision-Rooftop-Solar-to-Keep-Retail-Paymehttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-community-solar-market-to-grow-fivefold-in-2015-top-500-mw-in-2020http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-community-solar-market-to-grow-fivefold-in-2015-top-500-mw-in-2020http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/california-governor-brown-signs-50-renewable-portfolio-standard-into-law_100021447/http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/california-governor-brown-signs-50-renewable-portfolio-standard-into-law_100021447/http://www.bls.gov/http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.thesolarfoundation.org/donate/http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/donate/mailto:[email protected]://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://www.bls.gov/http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/california-governor-brown-signs-50-renewable-portfolio-standard-into-law_100021447/http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/california-governor-brown-signs-50-renewable-portfolio-standard-into-law_100021447/http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-community-solar-market-to-grow-fivefold-in-2015-top-500-mw-in-2020http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-community-solar-market-to-grow-fivefold-in-2015-top-500-mw-in-2020http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Californias-Net-Metering-2.0-Decision-Rooftop-Solar-to-Keep-Retail-Paymehttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Californias-Net-Metering-2.0-Decision-Rooftop-Solar-to-Keep-Retail-Paymehttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Breaking-California-Reaches-Compromise-on-Utility-Residential-Rate-Reformhttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Breaking-California-Reaches-Compromise-on-Utility-Residential-Rate-Reformhttp://www.tsfcensus.org/


35/36Photo courtesy of Sullivan So


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