New York, NY – The Solar Foundation released its 2015 solar jobs census today, showing 208,859 Americans now work in the solar energy sector, including 8,250 in New York. The national solar jobs number represents a 20.2 percent increase from the previous year – the third consecutive year that solar jobs have grown by 20 percent or more.
New York ranks 4th for solar jobs as of December 2015.
The top ten states for total solar jobs are California, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina and Colorado.
Heather Leibowitz, the Director with Environment New York, released this statement:
“As today’s census shows, when we place solar on the rooftops of homes, businesses, schools and places of worship, we not only reduce pollution, but also create jobs in communities across New York.
“The detractors of solar power should take note – solar is growing, it’s employing real people and it’s here to stay.
“This census shows that progress toward a 100 percent clean, renewable energy future can go hand in hand with economic progress.
“We urge leaders in New York to implement policies that move solar ahead, so that more and more New Yorkers can realize the economic and environmental benefits of this clean, virtually limitless energy source.”
