Minnesota Solar Jobs Census 2015

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2015MINNESOTA

SOLAR 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 increase understanding of solarenergy through strategic research and education that transformsmarkets. TSF is considered the premier research organization on thesolar labor workforce, employer trends, and the economic impactsof solar. It has provided expert advice to leading organizations suchas the National Academies, the Inter-American Development Bank,the U.S. Department of Energy, and others during a time of dynamicindustry growth and policy and economic uncertainty.

While TSF recognizes that solar energy is a key part of our energyfuture, it is committed to excellence in its aim to help peoplefairly and objectively gauge the value and importance of solartechnologies.

ABOUT BW RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP

BW Research is widely regarded as the national leader in labormarket research for emerging industries and clean energytechnologies. In addition to the Censusseries, BW Research hasconducted rigorous solar installation and wind industry labormarket analysis for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,wind energy and energy retroit studies for the Natural Resources

Defense Council, a series of comprehensive clean energy workforcestudies for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Illinois, Vermont,Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and California, as well as numerous

skills and gap analyses for community colleges, workforceinvestment boards, state agencies, and nonproit organizations.

ABOUT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

The Minnesota Department of Commerce serves the people ofMinnesota with jurisdiction over a broad range of industries,including energy. The Departments Division of Energy Resourcesadvocates on behalf of the public interest in proceedings involvingregulated utilities; oversees energy conservation programs;promotes energy eficiency and new technologies; delivers energy-

related education and technical assistance to consumers, businessesand government agencies; and administers low-income energyassistance and weatherization programs. The Minnesota Solar

Jobs Census 2015was produced with funding from the MinnesotaDepartment of Commerce.

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 to

increase understanding of solar energy throughstrategic research and education that transformmarkets. In 2010, TSF conducted its irst National

Solar Jobs Census report, establishing the irst

credible 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 Census in each of the last six years totrack changes and analyze trends.

This Minnesota Solar Jobs Census 2015report isan offshoot of TSFs National Solar Jobs Census

2015 effort. Research partners for the Census2015 effort include the State of MinnesotaDepartment of Commerce for providingeditorial guidance and peer review, the GeorgeWashington University Solar Institute forproviding assistance and support in reviewingand validating report results and analysis; the

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) foruse of its National Solar Database and peerreview; and GTM Research/SEIA for providingsurvey respondents with the U.S. Solar MarketInsight: 2014 YIR report.

Sponsors of this years Census effort include:Energy Foundation, William and Flora HewlettFoundation, Tilia Fund, George WashingtonUniversity Solar Institute, SEIA, Recurrent,SolarCity, First Solar, Sol Systems, E.ON,

Trina Solar, State of Minnesota Departmentof 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 Minnesotaemployers that participated in the survey. Yourresponses were critical in providing us withaccurate and timely data.

Andrea LueckePresident and Executive DirectorThe Solar Foundation202-469-3750; [email protected]

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 Minnesota 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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1Minnesota 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 the amount installed

in 2014 bringing total U.S. solar

capacity to nearly 27.5 gigawatts(GW).1

As the rate of capacity installation hasaccelerated, employers across the country have

continued to expand the size of their payrolls.This years sixth annual National Solar Jobs

Census found that the U.S. solar industry

employed 208,859 workers as of November

2015, an addition of 35,052 jobs, and a 20.2%

increase in employment over November

2014. Since The Solar Foundation begantracking these numbers in 2010, employment inthe industry has more than doubled, growing by123% and adding over 115,000 jobs. Employers

nationwide expect this growth trend to continuethrough 2016, projecting to add nearly 31,000jobs to the solar workforce over the course ofthe 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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With the exception of a slight lull in growth from2013 to 2014, the Minnesota solar industryhas installed a steadily increasing amount ofcapacity in the state each year since 2011.2Employment in the local industry has kept pace,and as of November 2015, there are 1,995workers are employed by the industry in the

state, representing nearly 131% growth inthe size of the workforce since 2013.3

As of September, approximately 6.5 MW of solarcapacity had been installed in Minnesota during2015, already surpassing that installed in thestate throughout all of 2014, with cumulativeinstalled capacity approaching 30 MW. Thatsaid, industry experts expect that the inal three

months of 2015 will have witnessed an evenfaster pace of capacity additions, assuring the

30 MW milestone was achieved and exceededwith relative ease. Although Minnesotasresidential market has seen signiicant growth

since 2013, the medium-scale non-residentialmarket has accounted for the vast majority ofthe states solar capacity additions since 2010,experiencing uninterrupted expansion over thepast ive years, with 2015 being no exception.4By years end, Minnesotas non-residentialinstalled capacity alone is believed to have

grown by nearly as much as the states installedcapacity across all market segments during both2012 and 2013 combined.5

Facilitating this growth, in large measure, isa state policy environment that has providedthe local industry with certainty that demandfor their products is, and will remain, stronginto the future. In 2007, the state legislaturepassed a measure transforming Minnesotasexisting renewable energy goals into mandatorystandards. Known as the Renewable EnergyStandard, the policy requires municipal utilities,rural electric cooperatives, and power districtsto meet at least 25% of their retail electricitysales with renewable energy by 2025. Thestates investor-owned utilities are subject toeven higher requirements, with Xcel Energy,

Minnesotas largest electric utility, speciicallymandated to meet 31.5% of its retail demandthrough renewables by 2020. In 2013, theRenewable Energy Standard was expanded torequire the investor-owned utilities to meeta minimum of 1.5% of their retail demandwith solar by 2020, and a statewide goalwas established calling for 10% of electricitygeneration from solar by 2030.6

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015E

AddedCapacity

(MW)

Minnesota Solar Capacity Additions, 2010 -2015E

Residential Non-Residential Utility

Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015


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The same legislation expanding the RenewableEnergy Standard in 2013 also tasked theMinnesota Department of Commerce withdevising an alternative method to the states30-year-old net-metering policy, through whichthe states utilities could choose to credit their

customers for the solar energy generated bytheir systems. This irst-in-the-nation Value of

Solar Tariff sets a ixed value for solar energy

generation, that accounts for the avoidedsocial and economic environmental costs, aswell as the beneicial grid services created

by distributed solar generation.7 To date, noutilities in the state have chosen to switchto the Value of Solar Tariff from traditionalnet-metering, but this could change as retail

electricity prices luctuate over time. TheDepartment of Commerce also administers anincentive program for the installation of solarsystems using equipment manufactured in thestate. The Made in Minnesota Solar IncentiveProgram is scheduled to remain in effect until2023, ensuring local businesses engaged atall levels of the solar value chain beneit from

steadily increasing consumer demand.8

The past year also witnessed community solar

development establish itself as a driver of non-

residential market growth in the state. XcelEnergy, the only utility required by law to offera community solar program, has received somany applications for community solar gardensthat the state Public Utilities Commission wasforced to issue a clariication of the rules over the

summer limiting the number of 1 MW gardensthat could be developed in a single location.9Although contentious at the time, this rulingprovides a level of clarity that should allowcommunity solar development to accelerate inthe years to come.

Industry experts anticipate signiicant growth

in installed capacity over the course of 2016across all market segments, including the adventof large utility-scale projects in the state, like

the 100 MW Aurora Solar Project. Approved inMay of 2015 and scheduled to be brought onlinelater in 2016, Aurora will be the states largestinstallation, more than tripling Minnesotas totalsolar capacity installed to date. This uptickin capacity deployment is projected to be

mirrored by the hiring plans of Minnesota

solar companies, who plan on adding more

than 400 jobs in 2016, expanding the states

solar workforce by more than 20% over the

course of the year.10

ABOUT THE MINNESOTA SOLAR JOBS CENSUS 2015This report includes information about all typesof Minnesota 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 on

rigorous survey efforts throughout the monthsof September, October, and November 2015 thatinclude telephone calls and emails to knownand potential solar establishments acrossMinnesota. Unlike economic impact modelsthat generate employment estimates based oneconomic data or jobs-per-megawatt (or jobs-per-dollar) assumptions, The Solar Foundations

Solar Jobs Census series provides statisticallyvalid and current data gathered from actualemployers. This analysis also purposefullyavoids artiicially inlating its results with

questionable multiplier effects often found inanalyses of other industries.

The number of establishments included in this

report 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 other

support 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 10 of this report.


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Key Data Points

Projected Solar

Jobs Growth, 2016

410(20.5%)

Capacity Installed in

2015 thru Q3 (MW)12

6.5

MINNESOTA

SOLAR JOBSTotal Solar Jobs, 2015

1,995Cumulative Installed

Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)11

26.6Detailed employment and demographic data for Minnesotas 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

The Minnesota solar industry employs 1,995

workers at 1,283 establishments throughout

the state. The state is ranked 22nd nationally

in solar jobs, and 29th in solar jobs as a share

of the states total employment. Employers

expect to add more than 400 new solar

workers to payrolls over the course of 2016

a growth rate of 20.5% while the states

workforce as a whole is projected to grow

only 0.9% during the same period.13

Sales & distribution irms employ the largestportion (47.6%) of the Minnesota solarworkforce. Installation irms, on the other hand,

employ a much smaller percentage, at 17.4%.This contrasts with the solar industry nationally,in which 57.4% of the workforce is employed byinstallation irms and only 11.7% of workers

are employed by sales & distribution irms.

However, it is interesting to note that Minnesotaemployers report two out of three solar workersin the state work directly on installing and

repairing solar systems, potentially signifyingthat Minnesota irms self-identifying as

primarily sales & distribution irms are much

more involved in the installation process thantheir counterparts nationwide.

Sales & Distribution Jobs

949

Project Development Jobs

230

Other Jobs

120

Manufacturing Jobs

348

Installation Jobs

347

Solar Jobs Census 2015

SMN S

W

U.S. S

W

I17.4% 57.4%

M 17.4% 14.5%

S &

Db47.6% 11.7%

Pj

D11.5% 10.8%

Other 6.0% 5.7%


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PW N C

D M WU.S. M W

S I $25.00 $21.00

S S R - $28.85

S S D $31.25 $26.92

S Ab W - $18.00

Solar employers in Minnesota experience lessdificulty on average inding qualiied candi-dates to ill openings on their payrolls than oth-er solar irms across the country. In fact, only

8.3% of the states employers reported ind-

ing it very dificult to ind such candidates,

the lowest percentage out of any state in thecountry.This inding is not unexpected consid-ering that in 2015 far fewer solar employersin Minnesota, and the other Midwestern statescomprising the U.S. Census Bureaus West NorthCentral Division,14 hired for positions that re-

quired previous solar experience (22.5%) thanemployers nationally (78.2%).

Wages paid by irms in the Minnesota solar in-dustry do not differ in a signiicant way from

those paid by solar employers across the WestNorth Central Division. Solar installers and sys-tem designers working in Minnesota and itsneighboring states are generally paid betterthan their counterparts in any other region ofthe country.

24.2%

31.9%

41.7%

51.7%

44.4%

50.0%

24.2%

23.6%

8.3%

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

National

West North Central

Minnesota

Difficulty Hiring in Minnesota

Not Difficult Somewhat Difficult Very Difficult


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Nearly 44% of Minnesota solar irms reported

that they receive all of their revenues from so-

lar, which is lower than the national average of

48.2%, while 30.8% reported that they receive

less than half of their revenues from solar, com-

pared to 28.5% nationally. A slightly smaller

portion of the states solar irms (62.5%) work

primarily with in-state customers, compared to

solar irms nationally (65.6%), though a larger

portion (47.5%) source their supplies and work

with vendors in-state than solar irms do nation-

ally (42.5%).

As part of the 2015 Census effort, employers

were asked about the impacts of speciic ex-

isting, pending, and proposed policies on their

business prospects. Minnesota employers

overwhelmingly cite the federal investment

tax credit (ITC) as substantially contributing

to their irms success, with 56.1% of respon-

dents referring to it directly, more than dou-

bling the second most commonly cited policy,

the Minnesota Renewable Energy Standard,

at 22%.

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00%

PTC & Other Production Incentives

Utility Rebates

EPA Clean Power Plan

Other Tax Exemptions, Credits, & Rebates

State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Businesses Citing Policy Contributions to Success

Minnesota National


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CONCLUSIONWhile only 6.5 MW of new solar capacity

were installed in Minnesota during the irst

nine months of 2015, the industry projects a

dramatic ramp-up throughout 2016, with theresidential, non-residential, and utility-scale

market segments all experiencing signiicant

growth. Employers in the state have begun

hiring accordingly. At 1,995 workers, the

states solar workforce is the 22nd largest in

the country, ahead of its Midwestern neighbors

Iowa (349), Missouri (1,854), and Wisconsin

(1,941), but lagging behind the larger regional

standouts, Michigan (2,779) and Illinois (3,483).

The workforce is expected to grow largerstill in 2016, with payrolls expanding by

more than 400 positions, or approximately

20.5%, during the year more than twenty

times the growth expected for the states

workforce economy-wide and signiicantly

higher than the 14.7% growth expected for

the U.S. solar industry at large.

Employers in the state perceive both federal

and state policies to be generally beneicial to

their irms success, though they tend to focus

their attention more on state policies than their

peers nationally. For instance, while Minnesota

irms agree with the industry nationally that

the federal ITC has contributed to their overall

success, their expectations for the impact of the

Clean Power Plan are considerably less rosy,

with only 15.4% anticipating it will considerably

increase their business prospects, compared to

24.2% nationally. And 42.3% expect it to have

no impact at all.

This is perhaps unsurprising given the solar-

friendly nature of Minnesota state policies,

including the states Renewable Energy

Standard, which is among the most aggressive

in the country. More than 70% of the states

solar irms credit this policy with substantively

increasing their business prospects. Similarly,

by embracing community solar development

and establishing the countrys irst-ever Value

of Solar Tariff, Minnesota policymakers have

demonstrated to the local industry a willingnessto explore innovative methods for ensuring a

robust market for their products and services

into the foreseeable future.

Although Minnesota solar irms currently

report a lower level of dificulty inding qualiied

applicants to ill their open positions than

their counterparts nationwide, this dificulty

is almost certain to grow in signiicance as

the remaining slack in the labor market from

the recent recession is absorbed and the solar

industry continues to expand. In order to sustain

this future growth, it is essential that Minnesota

employers have ready access to quality talent

and skilled labor or enhance their on-the-job

training offerings. To achieve this, more focused

and comprehensive solar training efforts in-

house, in-state, and across the country must

be suficiently emphasized. These efforts would

reduce the industrys talent acquisition, training,

and retention costs, increasing eficiency across

the solar value chain, and ultimately reducing

costs for Minnesota solar customers.

This research shows that the Minnesota solar

industry is a growing source of economic

opportunity, creating jobs that pay living wages

and are largely available to individuals across

the state, regardless of previous experience in

the industry. Only regular reexaminations of

the states solar industry, its workforce, and theemployment opportunities presented herein

will conirm this 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 substantially

completed surveys.

The survey was also administered to a strati-ied, clustered, random sampling from various

industries 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 qualiied

as 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 mir-rored at the state level. In addition to the knownCensus, 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

1 417 64 19 21 110 97 103 41

2 156 24 7 8 41 40 39 15

3 346 54 16 18 91 89 86 34

4 228 35 11 12 60 59 57 22

5 168 26 8 9 44 43 42 17

6 137 21 6 7 36 35 34 13

7 336 52 16 17 88 78 83 33

8 206 32 10 10 54 48 51 20

MINNESOTA FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

MINNESOTA STATE SENATE

DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

1 49 8 2 2 13 11 12 5

2 51 8 2 3 13 12 13 5

3 50 8 2 3 13 12 12 5

4 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

5 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

6 17 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

7 22 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

8 43 7 2 2 11 10 11 4

9 42 7 2 2 11 10 10 4

10 23 3 1 1 6 5 6 2

11 20 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

12 47 7 2 2 12 11 12 5

13 50 8 2 3 13 12 12 5
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

14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

15 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

16 62 9 3 3 16 14 15 617 40 6 2 2 11 9 10 4

18 34 5 2 2 9 8 8 3

19 35 5 2 2 9 8 9 3

20 55 8 3 3 14 13 14 5

21 64 10 3 3 17 15 16 6

22 46 7 2 2 12 11 11 5

23 43 7 2 2 11 10 11 4

24 17 3 1 1 4 4 4 2

25 49 8 2 2 13 11 12 5

26 28 4 1 1 7 6 7 3

27 33 5 2 2 9 8 8 3

28 90 14 4 5 24 21 22 9

29 21 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

30 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

31 43 7 2 2 11 11 11 4

32 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

33 47 7 2 2 12 12 12 5

34 16 3 1 1 4 4 4 2

35 6 1 0 0 2 1 1 1

36 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

37 25 4 1 1 7 6 6 2

38 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

39 25 4 1 1 7 6 6 2

40 19 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

41 33 5 2 2 9 9 8 3

42 28 4 1 1 7 7 7 3

43 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

44 94 15 4 5 25 24 23 9

45 9 1 0 0 2 2 2 146 16 3 1 1 4 4 4 2

47 13 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

48 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

49 76 12 4 4 20 20 19 7

50 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

51 34 5 2 2 9 9 8 3

52 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

53 9 1 0 0 2 2 2 1


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MINNESOTA 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

1A 26 4 1 1 7 6 6 3

1B 23 4 1 1 6 5 6 2

2A 27 4 1 1 7 6 7 3

2B 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

3A 21 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

3B 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

4A 10 2 0 0 3 2 2 1

4B 13 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

5A 6 1 0 0 2 1 2 1

5B 17 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

6A 13 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

6B 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

7A 18 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

7B 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

8A 19 3 1 1 5 5 5 28B 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

9A 30 5 1 1 8 7 7 3

9B 13 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

10A 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

10B 14 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

11A 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

11B 14 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

12A 32 5 1 2 8 7 8 3

DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

54 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

55 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

56 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 057 19 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

58 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

59 74 12 3 4 20 19 18 7

60 25 4 1 1 7 6 6 2

61 26 4 1 1 7 7 7 3

62 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

63 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

64 65 10 3 3 17 17 16 6

65 20 3 1 1 5 5 5 2


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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

12B 15 2 1 1 4 3 4 1

13A 36 6 2 2 10 8 9 4

13B 14 2 1 1 4 3 3 114A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

14B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

15A 17 3 1 1 4 4 4 2

15B 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

16A 29 5 1 1 8 7 7 3

16B 33 5 2 2 9 8 8 3

17A 25 4 1 1 7 6 6 3

17B 15 2 1 1 4 3 4 1

18A 12 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

18B 22 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

19A 35 5 2 2 9 8 9 3

19B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

20A 29 5 1 1 8 7 7 3

20B 21 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

21A 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

21B 35 5 2 2 9 8 9 3

22A 27 4 1 1 7 6 7 3

22B 19 3 1 1 5 4 5 2

23A 25 4 1 1 7 6 6 2

23B 19 3 1 1 5 4 5 2

24A 12 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

24B 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

25A 49 8 2 2 13 11 12 5

25B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

26A 20 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

26B 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

27A 26 4 1 1 7 6 6 3

27B 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

28A 74 11 3 4 19 17 18 728B 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

29A 13 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

29B 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

30A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

30B 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

31A 21 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

31B 22 3 1 1 6 6 5 2


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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

32A 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

32B 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

33A 39 6 2 2 10 10 10 433B 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

34A 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

34B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

35A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

35B 6 1 0 0 2 1 1 1

36A 9 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

36B 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

37A 20 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

37B 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

38A 20 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

38B 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

39A 10 2 0 1 3 3 3 1

39B 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

40A 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

40B 11 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

41A 27 4 1 1 7 7 3

41B 6 1 0 0 2 2 1

42A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

42B 28 4 1 1 7 7 7 3

43A 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

43B 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

44A 24 4 1 1 6 6 6 2

44B 70 11 3 4 18 18 17 7

45A 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

45B 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

46A 11 2 0 1 3 3 3 1

46B 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

47A 13 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

47B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 048A 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

48B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

49A 55 9 3 3 15 14 14 5

49B 21 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

50A 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

50B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

51A 34 5 2 2 9 9 8 3


19/25


DistrictTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

52A 17 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

52B 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

53A 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

53B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

54A 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

54B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

55A 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

55B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

56A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

56B 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

57A 19 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

57B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

58A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

58B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

59A 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

59B 73 11 3 4 19 19 18 7

60A 20 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

60B 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

61A 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

61B 19 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

62A 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

62B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 063A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

63B 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

64A 62 10 3 3 16 16 15 6

64B 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

65A 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

65B 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

MetropolitanStatistical Area

TotalEmployment

Women African-American

Asian or

PaciicIslanders

Latino

or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Duluth, MN-WI 87 13 4 4 23 20 21 9

Fargo, ND-MN 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

Grand Forks, ND-

MN16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

La Crosse, WI-MN 79 12 4 4 21 18 19 8

Mankato-North

Mankato, MN44 7 2 2 12 10 11 4

MINNESOTA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS


20/25


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

Minneapolis-

St. Paul-

Bloomington,MN-WI

968 151 45 49 256 250 240 95

MN NONMETRO-

POLITAN AREA624 96 29 31 164 145 154 61

Rochester, MN 94 14 4 5 25 22 23 9

St. Cloud, MN 67 10 3 3 18 16 17 7

MINNESOTA COUNTIES

CountyTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Aitkin 10 1 0 0 3 2 2 1

Anoka 67 10 3 3 18 17 17 7

Becker 12 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

Beltrami 17 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

Benton 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Big Stone 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

Blue Earth 34 5 2 2 9 8 8 3

Brown 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

Carlton 13 2 1 1 4 3 3 1

Carver 26 4 1 1 7 7 6 3

Cass 9 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Chippewa 6 1 0 0 2 1 2 1

Chisago 6 1 0 0 2 1 1 1

Clay 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

Clearwater 6 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Cook 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

Cottonwood 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Crow Wing 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

Dakota 102 16 5 5 27 26 25 10

Dodge 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0Douglas 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

Faribault 11 2 0 1 3 2 3 1

Fillmore 15 2 1 1 4 4 4 1

Freeborn 15 2 1 1 4 3 4 1

Goodhue 22 3 1 1 6 5 5 2

Grant 6 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Hennepin 471 73 22 24 124 122 117 46

Houston 79 12 4 4 21 18 19 8


21/25


CountyTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Hubbard 6 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Isanti 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Itasca 17 3 1 1 4 4 4 2Jackson 6 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Kanabec 6 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Kandiyohi 17 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

Kittson 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Koochiching 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

Lac Qui

Parle5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Lake 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

Lake of the

Woods

2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

Le Sueur 12 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

Lincoln 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

Lyon 11 2 0 1 3 2 3 1

Mahnomen 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Marshall 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Martin 11 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

McLeod 17 3 1 1 4 4 4 2

Meeker 12 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

Mille Lacs 12 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

Morrison 10 2 0 0 3 2 2 1

Mower 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

Murray 6 1 0 0 2 1 1 1

Nicollet 10 2 0 1 3 2 3 1

Nobles 11 2 1 1 3 3 3 1

Norman 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Olmsted 79 12 4 4 21 18 20 8

Otter Tail 29 4 1 1 8 7 7 3

Pennington 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Pine 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Pipestone 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Polk 16 2 1 1 4 4 4 2

Pope 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Ramsey 167 26 8 8 44 43 41 16

Red Lake 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

Redwood 11 2 0 1 3 2 3 1

Renville 11 2 0 1 3 2 3 1

Rice 22 3 1 1 6 5 5 2


22/25


CountyTotal

EmploymentWomen

African-

American

Asian or

Paciic

Islanders

Latino or

Hispanic

Older

Workers

(55+)

Union

Members

Veterans of

the US Armed

Forces

Rock 6 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Roseau 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

Scott 26 4 1 1 7 7 7 3Sherburne 21 3 1 1 5 5 5 2

Sibley 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

St Louis 73 11 3 4 19 17 18 7

Stearns 55 8 3 3 15 13 14 5

Steele 15 2 1 1 4 3 4 1

Stevens 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Swift 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Todd 6 1 0 0 2 1 1 1

Traverse 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

Wabasha 10 2 0 1 3 2 3 1

Wadena 7 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Waseca 8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1

Washington 54 8 2 3 14 14 13 5

Watonwan 6 1 0 0 2 1 1 1

Wilkin 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

Winona 17 3 1 1 5 4 4 2

Wright 25 4 1 1 7 6 6 2

Yellow

Medicine8 1 0 0 2 2 2 1


23/25

ENDNOTES

1. SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

2. Id.

3. The Minnesota Solar Jobs Census 2013can be found at www.TSFCensus.org. The 2014 estimate of solaremployment in Minnesota was produced using a carefully developed dual methodology one for installation andconstruction jobs and another for non-installation jobs (covering industry sectors such as manufacturing, sales& distribution, project development, and other occupations that support the solar industry). Method one usedlabor intensity multipliers developed internally and cross-checked with leading studies on the subject, whilemethod two was based not only on a direct count of solar workers, but also the average number of jobs per solarestablishment and total number of establishments in the state. It is also important to note that while the 2014and 2015 methodologies differ, the results derived from the Censusapproach are statistically signiicant and,therefore, more credible. Details on the methodology can be found on page 10.

4. The residential, non-residential, and utility-scale market segments are deined by SEIA based on the offtaker of

the 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. Minnesota Statutes 216B.1691

7. Haugen, D. (2014, March 12). Minnesota becomes irst state to set value of solar tariff. Retrieved January 10,

2016, from http://midwestenergynews.com/2014/03/12/minnesota-becomes-irst-state-to-set-value-of-solar-tariff/

8. Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/solar/mim/

9. Shaffer, D. (2015, June 25). Minnesota utility regulators put limits on solar gardens. Retrieved January 10, 2016,from http://www.startribune.com/regulators-put-limits-on-solar-gardens/309957431/

10. It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may

have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.


12. Id.

13. JobsEQ 2015Q3

14. 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

15. 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/

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

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, or

republication, 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/
http://www.tsfcensus.org/http://midwestenergynews.com/2014/03/12/minnesota-becomes-first-state-to-set-value-of-solar-tariff/http://midwestenergynews.com/2014/03/12/minnesota-becomes-first-state-to-set-value-of-solar-tariff/https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/solar/mim/https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/solar/mim/http://www.startribune.com/regulators-put-limits-on-solar-gardens/309957431/https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttps://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.htmlhttp://www.bls.gov/http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetsmailto:[email protected]://www.thesolarfoundation.org/donate/http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/donate/mailto:[email protected]://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vetshttp://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.startribune.com/regulators-put-limits-on-solar-gardens/309957431/https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/solar/mim/https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/solar/mim/http://midwestenergynews.com/2014/03/12/minnesota-becomes-first-state-to-set-value-of-solar-tariff/http://midwestenergynews.com/2014/03/12/minnesota-becomes-first-state-to-set-value-of-solar-tariff/http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/2401http://www.tsfcensus.org/


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