Solar Energy Jobs Growing In California And Across Nation

Solar energy jobs are growing throughout the United States and one in four of these jobs are held by a Californian, a new study says.

California, which ranked first in the nation for generating solar electricity, had an estimated 25,575 of the 100,237 solar-related jobs nationwide in August, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011, scheduled for release Monday by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization in Washington, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The total for California was four times greater than the runner-up, Colorado, with 6,186 solar jobs as of last summer, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"This report shows that the solar industry is not only creating green jobs across California but that the industry is forecast to continue growing at a much faster pace than the overall U.S. economy," said Michelle Kinman, a clean-energy advocate for Environment California, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. "California industry and policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to build on this solid foundation and make solar a centerpiece of the state's energy policy."

Nationally, employment in all parts of the solar industry -- including manufacturing, installation, residential, commercial and large-scale power generation -- grew 6.8 percent in the 12 months prior to August, the study said, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Overall U.S. job growth was less than 1 percent for the same period, it said.

Growth is expected to accelerate by 24 percent, creating 24,000 jobs over the next year, based on a survey of solar employers, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Solar is on the cusp of playing a large role in mainstream markets, said David Hochschild, vice president of Solaria Corp, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Source:http://www.thirdage.com/news/solar-energy-jobs-growing-in-california-and-across-nation_10-19-2011