Report: R.I. highest solar job growth in country in 2015

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island had the highest percentage growth in solar jobs in the country last year at 214 percent, according to The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit that released its annual State Solar Jobs Census report on Wednesday.
The number of solar jobs tripled in Rhode Island, to 941 in 2015 from 300 in 2014. It also ranked 34th in the country for its number of solar jobs. First was California with 75,598, and Massachusetts was second, with 15,095. Thirty-three states (including the District of Columbia) saw growth over 2014, the foundation said.
In Rhode Island, solar jobs are expected to grow nearly 15 percent in 2016, with an additional 140 employees. There are currently 26 solar companies employing 941 workers in the Ocean State, according to the report. Most of the solar jobs are concentrated in Providence County, with 544, followed by Kent County, with 154; Washington County, 124; Newport County, 89; and Bristol County, 30.
Of the 941 solar jobs, 119 are in project development, which boosted Rhode Island’s nationwide rank in that category to 27th. Rhode Island also ranked 11th for solar jobs per capita, the report said.
In addition, as of the third quarter, more than 17 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity had been installed throughout Rhode Island.
“Solar job creation is booming across the country. California’s 20,000 new jobs marks an industry milestone – but states like Utah, Colorado, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia demonstrate the regional diversity of the industry’s growth,” Andrea Luecke, president and executive director of The Solar Foundation, said in a statement. “Our data since 2012 show that half the states in the country have at least doubled their solar workforce.”
The foundation estimated that the median wage for solar installers in 2014 was $20 per hour, compared with an overall national median of $17.09.

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