GetSolar.com

October 15, 2010

A new report was released yesterday showing that the solar energy industry continues to create jobs, even as unemployment remains high across the country.

A project of The Solar Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and advocacy, released its first ever National Solar Job Census. Among a plethora of other positive findings was the strong standing of Arizona, which was recognized as the state with the fourth-largest number of solar companies. And, with 3,800 solar-related jobs, the state was determined to have the eighth-largest number of solar jobs in the country.

Despite these favorable rankings, U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) sees room for improvement. “There is no reason that states more famous for cars, cheese and peaches should have more solar energy jobs than we do,” said Giffords, referring to Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia, all of which rank ahead of Arizona in clean energy jobs.

Giffords may be on to something. The authors of the Solar Jobs Census found Arizona’s solar market to have the greatest potential for growth. The reasons are fairly simple: the state gets tons of sunshine and its lawmakers are taking clear steps to promote (1) the in-state adoption of solar energy systems, and (2) solar-related manufacturing activities.

Arizona homeowners who install solar panels, for instance, are eligible to receive solar rebates from their utility, like APS, TEP or SRP (although SRP recently paused its rebate program until 2011). Manufacturers of solar power equipment, meanwhile, are being drawn to Arizona by tax-related incentives and proximity considerations (Arizona is relatively close to California, the country’s biggest solar power market).

It is hoped that these activities yield for Arizona a number of benefits: a more diversified electricity mix; a bevy of new, clean-energy jobs; and an uptick in in-state investment. Ultimately, Arizona isn’t the only state gunning for pole position in the U.S. solar energy market. But, given the considerations noted above, the Grand Canyon State may have a decent shot at growing its share of the pie.