Page 77 - A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems

72 A COmPrEHENSIVE GUIDE TO SOlAr ENErGy SySTEmS

The rapid growth of the US solar market has created an immediate demand for solar en-
ergy specialists and a dearth of competent professionals.
In 2016, the industry added workers 17 times faster than the overall economy, 2% of
all jobs created in the US, with 178% growth since 2010. The Solar Foundation’s Solar Jobs
Census revealed 260,077 solar jobs were created in 2016, with the most in those states with
rPS obligations.
Solar is the second highest employer in the energy industry, behind oil, represents one
out of 50 new jobs in the US, and provides more employment than natural gas, twice as
much as coal, three times as much as wind, and five times as much as nuclear. The median
wage is $26 per hour and includes a wide range of positions, from installers to project de-
velopers and analysts (Fig. 4.23) [35].
Spotlight on Workforce Development: One of the initiatives designed to make US society
less disconnected in the renewable energy sector is The Center for renewable Energy Ad-
vanced Technological Education (CrEATE). CrEATE is comprised of community colleges
with robust renewable energy programs, including the madison Area Technical College
(mATC) in Wisconsin, the College of the Canyons in California, and the lane Community
College in Oregon. With funding from the National Science Foundation, CrEATE provides
hands-on training for community college and high school teachers in STEm. Its mission
is to “advance renewable energy educational programs nationwide by serving as a source
of teacher support, business and industry networking, professional development, and of
educational materials” [35].
CrEATE was formed in 2016 from the success of the renewable Energy Academies (rEA).
Beginning in 2010, mATC, in coordination with Solar Energy International, launched the
rEA, a five-day training in PV system installation for community college and high school
teachers. Since then, mATC has provided a three-day professional development training
for high school teachers, known as the STEm Solar Institute, providing classroom activities
using PV Watts and Solar Pathfinder for participants’ immediate use.

FIGURE 4.23 US solar jobs census 2016 [35].