Colorado Solar Jobs Census 2015

7/25/2019 Colorado Solar Jobs Census 2015

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2015

COLORADOSOLAR 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.

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 Colorado 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 Coloradoemployers 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 Colorado 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]


4/30Photo courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Labo


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1Colorado 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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Colorado currently employs 4,998 solar

workers across 2,201 establishments,2

ranking it 10th among the states in terms oftotal solar employment and 8th in solar jobsas a share of the states total employment.Colorado is projected to realize a 10.3% growthrate, adding approximately 515 solar workers in2016.3The largest solar sector, the installationsector, employs 2,958 workers, representing59% of solar jobs in Colorado. The installationsector is followed by the other job category,which employs 666 solar workers, or 13.3%of Colorados solar workforce. The othercategory includes research and developmentirms, inance and legal irms, non-proits,government agencies, solar training providers,

and academic research centers.

In terms of cumulative installed capacity,Colorado boasts approximately 443 MW ofsolar PV with 13 MW of solar capacity addedin Q3 2015.4 Colorados solar PV installedcapacity is evenly distributed with 166 MWin the residential market segment, 171 MWin the non-residential market segment,5 and107 MW in the utility-scale market segment.

Within the states that comprise the U.S. CensusBureaus Mountain Division,6 Colorado ranksthird in terms of cumulative installed solarcapacity, preceded by Arizona with 2,210 MWof installed capacity and Nevada at 1,016 MW.7Colorado is 9th in the nation for cumulativeinstalled capacity, an upward move from 13thin 2014.7 While Colorado has experiencedsolar PV expansion in recent years, numeroussources show that its projected growth may beleveling off.9,10However, like other states in theMountain Division, Colorado has tremendouspotential. The state could produce more than360 times as much electricity from solar PV andconcentrating solar power (CSP) installationsthan the state currently consumes each year.11

Colorado is one of the leading states inpioneering community solar gardens. In 2010,the Colorado Legislature passed the CommunitySolar Gardens Act (CSGA) intending to spurthe development of community solar gardens(CSGs) in the territories of investor-ownedutilities.12These projects are generally exemptfrom property tax and are eligible for both PACEinancing and virtual net metering. The Colorado

Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015E

AddedCapacity(M

W)

Colorado Solar Capacity Additions, 2010 - 2015E

Residential Non-Residential Utility


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based company, Clean Energy Collective,created the community-owned solar model bysuccessfully partnering with the investor-ownedutility Xcel Energy to implement eight projectswith a total of 12 MW of generating capacity.13Colorado leads the nation in community solarpower with approximately 28 community solarprojects in operation, generating more than 16MW, and at least 26 MW in development, withthe potential to generate an additional 31 MW.14

In 2015, the Colorado Energy Ofice (CEO)awarded GRID Alternatives (GRID) a $1.2million grant to implement low-incomecommunity solar.15 In 2016, the CEO of GRIDannounced ive community solar projects,totaling 579 kW, designed to demonstrate theviability of community solar serving low-incomehouseholds. The CEO and GRID Alternatives willwork with Delta Montrose Electric Association,Gunnison County Electric Association, HolyCross Energy, San Miguel Power Associationand Yampa Valley Electric Association, that havevolunteered to build the low-income projects.16

Part of the success of solar PV in Colorado canbe attributed to attractive incentive programsfrom Xcel Energy, as well as reduced solar PVcosts. Xcel Energys Solar* Rewards Programoffers incentives to customers that install grid-connected PV systems in exchange for renewableenergy credits (RECs) that the systems produce.Xcel Energy also offers net-metering to itscustomers.17

Other critical factors that can be attributed toColorados solar growth are its net meteringand interconnection policies. Coloradoreceives a grade of A from Freeing theGrid for its net metering policies, and a B

for its interconnection policies.18

Coloradoencourages the growth of clean energy throughits Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), whichrequires its investor-owned utilities to meet30% of their electricity from renewable energysources by 2020. Colorado also requiresits municipal utilities and rural electriccooperatives to provide 10% of their retailelectricity from renewable energy sources by2020. The RPS includes a carve-out of 3% ofretail electricity sales that must come from

distributed generation by 2020.19

Colorado currently employs4,998 solar workers across

2,201 establishments,

ranking it 10th among

the states in terms of total

solar employment.

Photo courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory


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ABOUT THE COLORADO SOLAR JOBS CENSUS 2015This report includes information about all typesof Colorado 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 Colorado.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 17 of this report.


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Key Data Points

Projected Solar

Jobs Growth, 2016

513(10.3%)

Capacity Installed in

2015 thru Q3 (MW)21

44.9

COLORADO

SOLAR JOBSTotal Solar Jobs, 2015

4,998Cumulative Installed

Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)20

443.4Detailed employment and demographic data for Colorado's legislative districts, counties, and metropolitan statistical areas

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

404

Project Development Jobs

580

Other Jobs

666

Manufacturing Jobs

389

Installation Jobs

2,958The Colorado solar industry currently employs

4,998 workers at 2,201 establishments

throughout the state, ranking it 10th in the nationin terms of solar jobs and 8th in solar jobs as ashare of the states total employment. Colorado isprojected to realize a 10.3% growth rate, addingapproximately 515 solar workers in 2016, whichis signiicantly higher than Colorados overall

projected jobs growth rate of 1.6% for 2016.22

The largest solar sector, the installation sector,employs 2,958 workers, representing 59% of solarjobs in Colorado. The second largest sector ofemployment, labeled as other, includes researchand development irms, inance and legal irms,non-proits, government agencies, solar trainingproviders, and academic research centers. Theother solar sector in Colorado employs 666 solarworkers which represents 13.3% of the total solar

workforce. A signiicant majority, 92% of Coloradosolar irms, indicate that they primarily work onutility-scale PV projects.

Solar Jobs Census 2015

SCO S

Wf

U.S. S

Wf

I 59.2% 57.4%

Mufu 7.8% 14.5%

S &

Dbu8.1% 11.7%

Pj

Dp11.6% 10.8%

Other 13.3% 5.7%


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Cf S

Wf

Cf O

Ep23U.S. S

Wf

W 24.3% 46.1% 23.8%

Af-A 2.8% 3.6% 5.1%

A Pf

I6.3% 2.9% 8.6%

L Hp 7.7% 17.5% 11.3%

O W (55+) 20.5% 21.0% 18.6%

U Mb 4.0% - 5.5%

V f U.S.

A F6.5% 8.2% 8.1%

The Colorado solar industry currently employs

4,998 workers at 2,201 establishments

throughout the state, ranking it 10th in thenation in terms of solar jobs and 8th in solarjobs as a share of the states total employment.Colorado is projected to realize a 10.3% growthrate, adding approximately 515 solar workers in

2016, which is signiicantly higher than Coloradosoverall projected jobs growth rate of 1.6% for2016.22

The largest solar sector, the installation sector,employs 2,958 workers, representing 59% of solarjobs in Colorado. The second largest sector of

employment, labeled as other, includes researchand development irms, inance and legal irms,non-proits, government agencies, solar trainingproviders, and academic research centers. Theother solar sector in Colorado employs 666 solarworkers which represents 13.3% of the total solarworkforce. A signiicant majority, 92% of Colorado

solar irms, indicate that they primarily work onutility-scale PV projects.

On a macro scale, women and older workersin Colorados solar industry are represented athigher rates in the state solar workforce comparedto their counterparts in the solar industry


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nationwide. However, African Americans, Asianor Paciic Islander, Latinos/Hispanics, and UnionsMembers are all represented at lower rates thantheir national counterparts.

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 wealth

of readily transferable skills and leadershipacumen to the industry. Through the Solar ReadyVets program, the U.S. Department of Energy ishelping the industry capitalize on this resourceby facilitating the transition from military serviceto employment in the civilian solar workforce.24

Colorado solar irms have yet to take advantage

of this value proposition to the same extent

as their counterparts across the country, with

24.2%

28.0%

28.6%

51.7%

51.8%

55.4%

24.2%

28.0%

16.1%

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

National

Mountain

Colorado

Difficulty Hiring in Colorado

Not Difficult Somewhat Difficult Very Difficult

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

PTC and Other Production Incentives

Utility Rebates

EPA Clean Power Plan

Other Tax Exemptions, Credits, & Rebates

State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Business Citing Policies Contributing to Success

Colorado National


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veterans comprising only 6.5% of the states

solar workforce, compared to 8.2% of the

states workforce as a whole and 8.1% of the

solar workforce nationally.

Colorado solar employers have dificulty indingqualiied candidates to ill openings on theirpayrolls. About 16% of Colorado solar irms reportit being very dificult to ind qualiied applicants,and 55% indicate it being somewhat dificult toind qualiied applicants.

Approximately 51% of Colorado solar irmsreport that they receive all of their revenues fromsolar activities, which is higher than the national

average of 48%, while 21% report that theyreceive less than half of their revenues from solaractivities compared to 23% nationally. About 56%of Colorados solar irms primarily work with in-state customers which is lower than the nationalaverage of 66%. Another 37% of Colorado solar

irms primarily work with domestic customersoutside of its bordering states.

As part of the 2015 Census effort, employerswere asked about the impacts of speciic existing,pending, and proposed policies on their business

prospects. Over half of Colorado solar employersat 52% cite the investment tax credit (ITC) assubstantially contributing to their irms success,twice the second most commonly cited policy,Renewable Portfolio Standard/Energy EficiencyResource Standard (RPS/EERS) at 25%. The EPAsClean Power Plan is anticipated to contribute to12% of solar irms success. Equally important,27% of respondents cite that no policies orprograms have contributed to their irms success.

In terms of federal incentives, respondents werespeciically asked their views on ITC and the CleanPower Plan. Almost 75% Colorado solar employersindicated that the ITC has considerably increasedor somewhat increased their business prospects,


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INSTALLATION

The installation sector isthe largest sector of theU.S. solar industry and iscomposed of companies thatprimarily install PV, solarwater heating, and othersolar energy technologies.

The installation sector is responsible for 59%of all solar employment in Colorado, employing2,958 workers. Approximately 66% of theinstallation jobs are installation or repairand 20% are categorized as management/professional.

In terms of hiring dificulty, 71% of Coloradoinstallation irms indicate that it is somewhatdificult to ind qualiied workers and 12%indicate it is very dificult to hire qualiiedworkers. The hiring dificulty for installationworkers is greater than in other solar industrysectors.

Establishments

1,487

Percent Colorado

Solar Workforce

59.2%

Sector Jobs

2,958


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A smaller percentage of Colorado installationirms are pure play solar businesses, receivingall of their revenues from solar activities thantheir counterparts nationwide.

About 84% of Colorado installation irmswork primarily with in-state customers and

16% serve U.S. states outside the immediatelybordering states.

Approximately 70% of the installation irmsalso cite the ITC as a major contributor to theirsuccess while 25% of the irms cite the statesRPS/EERS as a major driver to their success.

19.7%

17.6%

54.2%

70.6%

26.0%

11.8%

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

U.S. Installation

CO Installation

Installation Sector - Difficulty Hiring


11.7%

22.2%

7.2%

5.6%

22.1%

22.2%

Pure Plays, 59.0%

Pure Plays, 50.0%

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

U.S. Installation

CO Installation

Installation 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.

The sales and distribution sector is responsible

for almost 8% of all solar employment inColorado, employing 404 workers. About 37%of these sales and distribution jobs fall underthe category of sales, 19% are categorizedas management/professional, and 12% arecategorized as administrative.

In terms of hiring difficulty for sales and distribution,40% of these Colorado solar firms indicated somelevel of difficulty in hiring qualified solar workers,and 20% indicated that it is very difficult to find

qualified workers.

Establishments

111

Percent Colorado

Solar Workforce

8.1%

Sector Jobs

404


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Roughly the same percentage of Colorado sales anddistribution firms are pure play solar businesses astheir counterparts nationally. However, only 53.3%of these Colorado firms report working primarilywith in-state customers, compared to 64.7% of salesand distribution firms across the country.

Approximately 38% of the sales and distributionfirms cite the ITC as a major contributor to theirfirms success. Colorados sales and distributionfirms also cite the EPAs Clean Power Plan and theRPS/EERS as significant contributing factors totheir firms success, both at 25%.

24.7%

40.0%

51.9%

40.0%

23.4%

20.0%

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

U.S. Sales & Distribution

CO Sales & Distribution

Sales & Distribution Sector - Difficulty Hiring


11.7%

13.3%

7.8%

13.3%

27.6%

20.0%

Pure Plays, 52.9%

Pure Plays, 53.3%

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

U.S. Sales & Distribution

CO Sales & Distribution

Sales & Distribution Sector -% Revenues from Solar

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


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PROJECTDEVELOPMENT

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

The project development sector is responsiblefor almost 12% of all solar employment inColorado, employing 580 workers. About61% of these project development jobs fallunder the category of installation/repair and22% are categorized as administrative ormanagement/professional.

In terms of hiring dificulty for projectdevelopment positions, 62% of Colorado solarirms indicated some level of dificulty in hiring

qualiied solar workers, and 10% indicated thatit is very dificult to ind qualiied workers.

Establishments

193

Percent Colorado

Solar Workforce

11.6%

Sector Jobs

580


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Roughly the same percentage of Colorado projectdevelopment firms are pure play solar businessesas their counterparts nationally. Approximately65% of these irms work primarily with in-statecustomers, which is slightly lower than theircounterparts nationwide (75%).

About 27% of these irms serve customersoutside its bordering states compared to 17%nationally. Approximately 67% of the projectdevelopment irms cite the ITC as a majorcontributor to their success, which is higherthan the national average of 60%.

21.4%

28.6%

54.1%

61.9%

24.5%

9.5%

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

U.S. Project Development

CO Project Development

Project Development Sector - Difficulty Hiring


14.5%

16.7%

7.8%

4.2%

23.1%

25.0%

Pure Plays, 54.6%

Pure Plays, 54.2%

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

U.S. Project Development

CO Project Development

Project Development Sector - % Revenues from Solar

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


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CONCLUSIONColorado is projected to have a positive outlookin 2016 due in part to its strong incentivesand policies. 2015 was a signiicant year forColorados clean energy policies. Last year, the

Renewable Portfolio Standard was challengedby the Energy and Environment Legal Institute(EELI) arguing that Colorados RPS unfairly andadversely impacted out-of-state companies.The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld theconstitutionality of Colorados RPS.25In anotherwin for the clean energy industry, the PublicUtilities Commission of Colorado left the net-metering rules intact.26

The residential and the non-residential sectors

will be fairly uniform in terms of installed solarPV capacity. The biggest gains will be realizedin the utility-scale sector. Colorados newlycreated commercial PACE program shouldenable commercial building owners to accessnew inancing for clean energy improvementprojects.

Colorado is rich in natural resources and still

predominantly a fossil fuel state. Coloradogenerates 2,096 GWh of energy through coal

and 1,094 GWh through natural gas comparedto 679 GWh of other renewables.27Additionally,the solar industry also competes with lowelectricity prices in Colorado. Therefore, thecontinuation and implementation of policies

and incentives such as net metering, the statesRPS, and the Clean Power Plan can give solar asigniicant boost in Colorado.

In order to achieve sustain this future growth,it is essential that Colorado employers haveready access to quality talent and skilled laboror enhance their on-the-job offerings. Aspreviously reported, the signiicant dificultiesthey currently experience in inding qualiiedcandidates to ill open positions underscoresthe need for more focused and comprehensivesolar training efforts, in-house, in-state, andacross the country. If suficiently emphasized,these efforts would reduce the companys

talent acquisition, training, and retentioncosts, increasing eficiency across the solarvalue chain, and ultimately reducing costs forColorados solar customers.

This irst-ever study establishes baseline solaremployment numbers for the state of NewJersey and shows that the local solar industryis a growing source of economic opportunity,creating jobs that pay living wages and arelargely available to individuals across the state.

Only regular reexaminations of the states solarindustry, its workforce, and the employmentopportunities presented herein will conirmthis remains the case in years to come.


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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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DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

15 42 11 0 1 2 11 9 4

16 825 200 26 60 66 155 4 50

17 104 27 1 2 6 28 23 918 191 49 2 3 11 51 42 17

19 217 53 7 16 18 41 1 13

20 93 23 3 7 8 17 0 6

21 557 135 18 40 45 104 2 34

22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

23 19 5 1 1 2 4 0 1

24 45 11 1 3 4 8 0 3

25 67 16 2 5 5 12 0 4

26 372 90 12 27 30 70 2 23

27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

28 14 3 0 1 1 3 0 1

29 15 4 0 1 1 3 0 1

30 42 10 1 3 3 8 0 3

31 239 58 8 17 19 45 1 14

32 150 36 5 11 12 28 1 9

33 69 17 2 5 6 13 0 4

34 416 100 13 30 33 78 2 25

35 24 6 0 0 1 7 5 2

COLORADO STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

1 183 44 6 13 15 34 1 11

2 216 52 7 16 17 40 1 13

3 1,067 258 34 79 86 199 4 64

4 80 19 3 6 6 15 0 5

5 452 109 14 33 37 84 2 27

6 133 32 4 10 11 25 1 8

7 129 31 4 9 10 24 1 8

8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 44 11 1 3 4 8 0 3

10 278 71 3 4 16 74 55 24

11 21 5 0 0 1 6 4 2

12 116 30 1 2 7 31 23 10

13 99 24 3 7 8 18 0 6


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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

14 53 10 1 3 4 18 2 4

15 9 2 0 1 1 3 0 1

16 18 4 0 1 1 6 1 117 20 4 1 1 2 7 1 1

18 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

19 8 2 0 1 1 3 0 1

20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

22 49 12 2 4 4 9 0 3

23 477 115 15 35 39 89 2 29

24 95 23 3 7 8 18 0 6

25 30 7 1 2 2 6 0 2

26 52 13 0 1 3 14 10 5

27 113 27 4 8 9 21 0 7

28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

29 18 4 1 1 1 3 0 1

30 457 110 15 34 37 85 2 27

31 44 11 1 3 4 8 0 3

32 14 3 0 1 1 3 0 1

33 33 8 1 2 3 6 0 2

34 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

36 34 8 1 2 3 6 0 2

37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

38 34 8 1 2 3 6 0 2

39 170 41 5 13 14 32 1 10

40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

43 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 046 13 3 0 0 1 3 3 1

47 12 3 0 0 1 3 2 1

48 56 14 1 1 3 15 11 5

49 82 21 1 1 5 22 16 7

50 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

52 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

53 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


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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

54 43 11 0 1 2 11 9 4

55 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

56 6 2 0 0 0 2 1 157 20 5 0 0 1 5 4 2

58 23 6 0 0 1 6 5 2

59 38 10 0 1 2 10 7 3

60 12 3 0 0 1 3 2 1

61 87 22 1 1 5 23 17 8

62 9 2 0 0 1 2 2 1

63 7 2 0 0 0 2 1 1

64 20 5 0 0 1 5 4 2

65 13 3 0 0 1 4 3 1

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

Denver-

Aurora, CO3,974 959 127 293 322 740 16 239

Colorado

Springs, CO112 22 3 7 9 39 5 8

Boulder, CO 401 102 4 6 23 107 80 35

CO NONMETRO-POLITAN AREA

290 74 3 4 17 77 58 25

Fort Collins-

Loveland, CO105 27 1 2 6 28 21 9

Grand Junction,

CO40 10 0 1 2 11 8 3

Greeley, CO 55 14 0 1 3 15 11 5

Pueblo, CO 21 5 0 0 1 6 4 2

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

COLORADO 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

Adams 546 132 18 40 44 102 2 33Alamosa 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Arapahoe 1,305 315 42 96 106 243 5 78

Archuleta 5 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Baca 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Boulder 401 102 4 6 23 107 80 35

Broomield 37 9 1 3 3 7 0 2

Chaffee 6 2 0 0 0 2 1 1

Cheyenne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Clear Creek 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Conejos 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Costilla 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Custer 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Delta 69 18 1 1 4 18 14 6

Denver 982 237 31 72 79 183 4 59

Dolores 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Douglas 179 43 6 13 14 33 1 11

Eagle 18 5 0 0 1 5 4 2

El Paso 109 22 3 7 8 38 5 8

Elbert 13 3 0 1 1 3 0 1

Fremont 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Garield 17 4 0 0 1 4 3 1

Gilpin 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Grand 6 2 0 0 0 2 1 1

Gunnison 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Hinsdale 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Huerfano 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jackson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jefferson 887 214 28 65 72 165 4 53

Kiowa 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Kit Carson 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

La Plata 28 7 0 0 2 7 6 2

Lake 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Larimer 105 27 1 2 6 28 21 9

Las Animas 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Lincoln 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Logan 6 2 0 0 0 2 1 1

Mesa 39 10 0 1 2 10 8 3

COLORADO 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

Mineral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Moffat 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Montezuma 6 2 0 0 0 2 1 1Montrose 11 3 0 0 1 3 2 1

Morgan 6 2 0 0 0 2 1 1

Otero 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Ouray 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Park 16 4 1 1 1 3 0 1

Phillips 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Pitkin 29 7 0 0 2 8 6 3

Prowers 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Pueblo 21 5 0 0 1 6 4 2

Rio Blanco 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Rio Grande 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Routt 9 2 0 0 1 3 2 1

Saguache 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

San Juan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

San Miguel 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

Sedgwick 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Summit 10 3 0 0 1 3 2 1

Teller 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Washington 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Weld 55 14 0 1 3 15 11 5

Yuma 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0


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ENDNOTES

1. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

2. The 2014 estimate of solar employment in Colorado was produced using a carefully developed dual methodology one for installation and construction jobs and another for non-installation jobs (covering industry sectorssuch as manufacturing, sales & distribution, project development, and other occupations that support the

solar industry). Method one used labor intensity multipliers developed internally and cross-checked withleading studies on the subject, while method two was based not only on a direct count of solar workers, butalso the average number of jobs per solar establishment and total number of establishments in the state. It isalso important to note that while the 2014 and 2015 methodologies differ, the results derived from the Censusapproach are statistically signiicant and, therefore, more credible. Details on the methodology can be found onpage 17.

3. 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.


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).

6. 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


8. Id.

9. Colorado Solar, Solar Energy Industries Association, http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/colorado


11. Burr, Judeee, Hallock, Lindsey, and Sargent, Rob, Star Power The Growing Role of Solar in Colorado (2014),Environment Colorado Research and Policy Center http://environmentcolorado.org/sites/environment/iles/reports/CO_Star_Power.pdf

12. Farrell, John, A First Look at Colorados Community Solar Gardens (2011), Institute for Local Self-Reliancehttps://ilsr.org/irst-look-colorados-community-solar-gardens/

13. Lindenstein, Joshua, Clean Energy Collective Snags Large Share of Solar Rewards Contracts (2015), Biz West,http://bizwest.com/clean-energy-collective-snags-large-share-of-solar-rewards-contracts-from-xcel/

14. Community Solar, Colorado Energy Ofice, https://www.colorado.gov/paciic/energyofice/community-solar

15. Colorado Energy Ofice and GRID Alternatives Announce Five Rural Low-Income Community SolarDemonstration Projects (2016), Colorado Energy Ofice https://www.colorado.gov/paciic/sites/default/iles/atoms/iles/Rural%20Low-Income%20Community%20Solar%20Development%20Projects.pdf

16. Id.

17. Xcel Energy Solar Rewards Program, Colorado Program Overview (2015) http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/1255

18. Colorado State Grades - Freeing the Grid. Retrieved February 01, 2016, from http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/colorado

19. RPS Solar Carve-Out, Colorado http://www.seia.org/research-resources/rps-solar-carve-out-colorado


21. Id.

22. JobsEQ 2015Q3

23. 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/
https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttp://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/coloradohttp://environmentcolorado.org/sites/environment/files/reports/CO_Star_Power.pdfhttp://environmentcolorado.org/sites/environment/files/reports/CO_Star_Power.pdfhttps://ilsr.org/first-look-colorados-community-solar-gardens/http://bizwest.com/clean-energy-collective-snags-large-share-of-solar-rewards-contracts-from-xcel/https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/energyoffice/community-solarhttps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Rural%20Low-Income%20Community%20Solar%20Development%20Projects.pdfhttps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Rural%20Low-Income%20Community%20Solar%20Development%20Projects.pdfhttp://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/1255http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/1255http://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/coloradohttp://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/coloradohttp://www.seia.org/research-resources/rps-solar-carve-out-coloradohttp://www.bls.gov/http://www.bls.gov/http://www.seia.org/research-resources/rps-solar-carve-out-coloradohttp://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/coloradohttp://freeingthegrid.org/#state-grades/coloradohttp://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/1255http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/1255https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Rural%20Low-Income%20Community%20Solar%20Development%20Projects.pdfhttps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Rural%20Low-Income%20Community%20Solar%20Development%20Projects.pdfhttps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/energyoffice/community-solarhttp://bizwest.com/clean-energy-collective-snags-large-share-of-solar-rewards-contracts-from-xcel/https://ilsr.org/first-look-colorados-community-solar-gardens/http://environmentcolorado.org/sites/environment/files/reports/CO_Star_Power.pdfhttp://environmentcolorado.org/sites/environment/files/reports/CO_Star_Power.pdfhttp://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/coloradohttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.html


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ENDNOTES

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 to

www.TheSolarFoundation.org/donate/

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

25. Federal Appeals Court Upholds Colorados Renewable Portfolio Standard (2015, Solar Energy IndustriesAssociation, https://www.seia.org/news/federal-appeals-court-upholds-colorado-s-renewable-portfolio-

standard26. Hill, Joshua, Net Metering Wins in Nevada and Colorado (2015), Clean Technica, http://cleantechnica.

com/2015/08/28/nevada-colorado-net-metering-continues-unmodiied/

27. Colorado Proile Overview, Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CO#tabs-1

Photo courtesy of Borrego Solar
mailto:[email protected]://www.thesolarfoundation.org/donate/http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttps://www.seia.org/news/federal-appeals-court-upholds-colorado-s-renewable-portfolio-standardhttps://www.seia.org/news/federal-appeals-court-upholds-colorado-s-renewable-portfolio-standardhttp://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/28/nevada-colorado-net-metering-continues-unmodified/http://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/28/nevada-colorado-net-metering-continues-unmodified/http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CO#tabs-1http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CO#tabs-1http://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/28/nevada-colorado-net-metering-continues-unmodified/http://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/28/nevada-colorado-net-metering-continues-unmodified/https://www.seia.org/news/federal-appeals-court-upholds-colorado-s-renewable-portfolio-standardhttps://www.seia.org/news/federal-appeals-court-upholds-colorado-s-renewable-portfolio-standardhttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://www.thesolarfoundation.org/donate/mailto:[email protected]


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