Solar in Mass. isn't just good for the environment; it's also good for the state's job market. Two key studies have been conducted in the last several months that show Mass. is the 4th-ranked state when it comes to renewable energy jobs, with solar leading the way. According to the 2013 Clean Energy Industry Report from the Mass. Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC), clean energy has bucked the overall Mass. job market trends, with clean energy jobs growing 11.8% from 2012 to 2013 on top of the 11+% growth it experienced from 2011 to 2012.
While the Mass CEC data represents the clean energy industry as a whole, recent data from The Solar Foundation and the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) show that solar jobs are continuing to play a major role in the state's growing job market. According to this report, there were 6,400+ solar jobs in the state in 2013, placing it 4th in national rankings behind traditional solar powerhouse states such as California (47,100 solar jobs), Arizona (8,300) and New Jersey (6,500). The Mass CEC numbers are even more favorable for solar, with 8,400 solar jobs reported in 2013 (the discrepancy lies in the sampling of manufacturing, R&D and other services measured between the two surveys).
Here are some additional figures from The Solar Foundation about Mass.:
* Solar jobs added since 2012: 1,900
* Solar jobs per capita rank (change since 2012): 6 (+2)
* Total solar companies: 283
* Number of homes powered by solar rank: 6 (more than 50,000 homes)
* Electricity price rank (most expensive): 8
The state's position in solar jobs mirrors the growth in solar in the state overall. According to data from SEIA and The Solar Foundation, Mass. was also the 4th-ranked state overall for solar energy, with 440 MW installed by the end of 2013!
Interested in learning more about why Mass. is among the top in the nation for solar activity and solar jobs? A professional solar developer can help you understand the financial, environmental and social benefits of deploying renewable solar energy solutions.
James Dumas is principal of Solect Energy Development LLC of Hopkinton, Mass. and is a contributing author for the New England Real Estate Journal's Green Building section.