New York Solar Jobs Census 2015

2015
NEW YORK
SOLAR JOBS
CENSUS
ABOUT THE SOLAR FOUNDATION

The Solar Foundation (TSF) is an independent 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase
understanding of solar energy through strategic research and
education that transforms markets. TSF is considered the
premier research organization on the solar labor workforce,
employer trends, and the economic impacts of solar. It has
provided expert advice to leading organizations such as
the National Academies, the Inter-American Development
Bank, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others during a
time of dynamic industry growth and policy and economic
uncertainty.
While TSF recognizes that solar energy is a key part of our
energy future, it is committed to excellence in its aim to help
people fairly and objectively gauge the value and importance
of solar technologies.
ABOUT BW RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
BW Research is widely regarded as the national leader in
labor market research for emerging industries and clean
energy technologies. In addition to the Census series, BW
Research has conducted rigorous solar installation and
wind industry labor market analysis for the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, wind energy and energy
retrofit studies for the Natural Resources Defense Council,
a series of comprehensive clean energy workforce studies
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Illinois, Vermont,
Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and California, as well as
numerous skills and gap analyses for community colleges,
workforce investment boards, state agencies, and nonprofit
organizations.
COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Solar Foundation (TSF) is a national 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to
increase understanding of solar energy through
strategic research and education that transform
markets. In 2010, TSF conducted its first National
Solar Jobs Census report, establishing the first
credible solar jobs baseline and verifying that
the solar industry is having a positive impact
on the U.S. economy. Using the same rigorous,
peer-reviewed methodology, TSF has conducted
an annual Census in each of the last six years to
track changes and analyze trends.
This New York Solar Jobs Census 2015 report is an
offshoot of TSFs National Solar Jobs Census 2015
effort. Research partners for the Census 2015
effort include the George Washington University
Solar Institute for providing assistance and
support in reviewing and validating report
results and analysis; the Solar Energy Industries
Association (SEIA) for use of its National Solar
Database and peer review; and GTM Research/

SEIA for providing survey respondents with the
U.S. Solar Market Insight: 2014 YIR report.
Other sponsors of this years Census effort

include: Energy Foundation, William and
Flora Hewlett Foundation, Tilia Fund, George
Washington University Solar Institute, SEIA,
Recurrent, SolarCity, First Solar, Sol Systems,
E.ON, Trina Solar, State of Minnesota Department
of Commerce, State of New Mexico Energy
Minerals and Natural Resources Department,
Utah Governors Office of Energy Development,
sPower, Standard Solar, CALSEIA, All Earth
Renewables, and groSolar.
Finally, we want to thank all the New York

employers that participated in the survey. Your
responses were critical in providing us with
accurate and timely data.
For questions or comments about this report, please contact either:
Andrea Luecke
President and Executive Director
The Solar Foundation
202-469-3750; aluecke@solarfound.org
www.TheSolarFoundation.org
Philip Jordan
Principal and Vice President
BW Research Partnership
508-384-2471; pjordan@bwresearch.com
www.bwresearch.com
Please cite this publication when referencing this material as New York Solar Jobs Census 2015,
The Solar Foundation, available at: www.TSFcensus.org and SolarStates.org
Photo courtesy of Ross Solar Group
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. solar industry experienced
yet another record-breaking year
in 2015, with more than 7,400
megawatts (MW) of domestic
photovoltaic (PV) capacity expected
to have been installed an 18.5%
increase over the amount installed
in 2014 bringing total U.S. solar
capacity to nearly 27.5 gigawatts
(GW).1
As the rate of capacity installation has
accelerated, employers across the country
have continued to expand the size of their

payrolls. This years sixth annual National
Solar Jobs Census found that the U.S. solar
industry employed 208,859 workers as of
November 2015, representing the addition
of 35,052 jobs, and a 20.2% increase in
employment over November 2014. Since The
Solar Foundation began tracking these numbers
in 2010, employment in the industry has more
than doubled, growing by 123% and adding over
115,000 jobs. Employers nationwide expect
this growth trend to continue through 2016,
projecting to add nearly 31,000 jobs to the solar
workforce over the course of the year.
U.S. PV Capacity Additions & Solar Jobs, 2010 - 2015E

8,000
208,859
Solar Jobs
200,000
173,807
100,000
6,000
142,698
150,000
93,502
105,145
7,000
5,000
119,016
4,000
3,000
2,000
50,000
Added Capacity (MW)
250,000
1,000
0
0
2010
2011
2012
PV Capacity Additions
2013
2014
2015E
Solar Jobs
Capacity Data Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
New York Solar Jobs Census 2015
New York Solar Capacity Additions, 2010 - 2015E
Added Capacity (MW)
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2010
2011
Residential
2012
2013
Non-Residential
2014
2015E
Utility
Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015
New York is experiencing strong growth in solar

power development, especially in the residential
market.2 By the end of September 2015, just
under 173 MW of new solar capacity had been
installed in New York, slightly more than the
122 MW installed in the neighboring state of
New Jersey, and substantially higher than the
5.6 MW installed in Pennsylvania. Nationwide,
New York has held the number two or three
position in terms of quarterly residential solar
installations since mid-2014.3
Though the state ranks a somewhat distant
seventh place nationally in terms of total
installed capacity, its focus on the more
labor-intensive residential market segments
(as compared with the non-residential and
utility-scale segment) has contributed to its
ranking fourth in the nation in terms of total
solar employment. As of November 2015,
8,250 workers were employed by the solar
industry in New York, representing 13.3%
growth since November 2014.4 This total puts
New York ahead of neighboring New Jersey,
which has nearly three times the installed
capacity, much of which came online during
very different policy conditions in the state.

Employers in New York are optimistic about
the states maturing solar market, as they
expect to grow their payrolls by more than
11% in 2016.
The states solar additions have increased
dramatically
since
2013.
Residential
installations made up the bulk of New Yorks
2015 capacity additions, growing from less than
20 MW per quarter throughout much of 2013
and 2014, to more than 40 MW in an average
quarter in 2015. Nevertheless, New York is
currently projected to be surpassed by Texas
and Georgia in total installed capacity over the
course of 2016 as those state markets begin to
pick up and the New York solar market learns
how to balance the positive impacts of new
rules requiring utilities to integrate distributed
energy resources with changes to how remote
net metered non-residential projects are
compensated.5
In February 2015, The Public Service

Commission (NYPSC) adopted the new
Reforming the Energy Vision plan, which
2
has begun to restructure the traditional utility

business model and created several policy
challenges as well as positive opportunities
for solar.6 The Order set a framework for utilities
to function as Distributed System Platform (DSP)
providers.7 In April 2015, the NYPSC issued
an order as part of the Transition Plan which
changed remote net metering from monetary
to volumetric crediting which impacted the
economics of those non-residential projects.8
In July 2015, state staff proposed a new rate
structure and utility business model to promote
the use of distributed energy resources through
private, non-utility investments.9 At roughly the
same time, the NYPSC adopted a framework for
Community Distributed Generation, with the
first phase beginning on October 19, 2015.10
In July 2015, Orange and Rockland Utilities,
Inc. filed a petition requesting an exemption
from interconnecting additional net metering
systems, noting that based on applications it
would soon hit the 6% renewable energy cap.11
In October 2015, NYPSC suspended caps on retail
rate net metering for rooftop systems, avoiding
a potential slowdown for solar development in
those territories.12
On September 22, 2015, multiple stakeholders

filed a petition with the NYPSC to change
the current true-up policy for net excess
generation credits for residential net-metered
PV customers.13 The petition requested
that the current policy, which only permits
residential customers to have one opportunity
to select a date to cash out their excess credits
at the avoided cost rate be amended to permit
residents to choose multiple cash out dates at
the retail rate.14 The Public Services Commission
received comments on the petition and issued
an order on January 27, 2016, which denied the
petitioners requests, except for allowing utility
customers to select their preferred excess net
metering cash out date.15
In January 2016, New York Governor Andrew

Cuomo announced that the state will lead a 10year, $1 billion program which will lead to 3,000
MW of PV installations by 2022.16 As part of that
As of November 2015, 8,250

workers were employed by
the solar industry in New
York, representing 13.3%
growth since November
2014.
commitment, the Governor pledged another $4

billion to support other clean energy financing
and innovation efforts that will help the state
meet its 50% renewable energy portfolio
standard goal by 2030. Governor Cuomo also
announced that the State University of New
York (SUNY) public university system will
install solar energy systems at all of the 64 SUNY
campuses by 2020.17
While the Reforming the Energy Vision

process, as well as other important pieces of
the implementation of the Clean Power Plan,
will not be complete for some time, there is
increased certainty that New Yorks residential
and non-residential solar markets are set to
grow in 2016.18 Accordingly, solar employers
in the state are optimistic about employment
growth over the next twelve months, although
their projected growth rate of 11.6% is far below
the unmet prediction captured in the New York
Solar Jobs Census 2014 of nearly 30%.19
ABOUT THE NEW YORK SOLAR JOBS CENSUS 2015

This report includes information about all types
of New York companies engaged in the analysis,
research and development, production, sales,
installation, and use of all solar technologies
ranging from solar photovoltaics (PV), to
concentrating solar power (CSP), to solar water
heating systems for the residential, commercial,
industrial, and utility market segments.
The findings presented herein are based on
rigorous survey efforts throughout the months
of September, October, and November 2015 that
include telephone calls and emails to known and
potential solar establishments across New York.
Unlike economic impact models that generate
employment estimates based on economic
data or jobs-per-megawatt (or jobs-per-dollar)
assumptions, The Solar Foundations Solar Jobs
Census series provides statistically valid and

current data gathered from actual employers.
This analysis also purposefully avoids artificially
inflating its results with questionable multiplier
effects often found in analyses of other
industries.
The number of establishments included in this

report include all businesses that conduct any
solar activity. This includes many businesses
that play a very small part in a solar project,
or provide financing, legal services, or other
support services to solar firms. Employment,
however, is only counted for workers that spend
at least 50% of their time on solar.
A full explanation of this methodology can be
found on page 15 of this report.
Photo courtesy of Ross Solar Group

NEW YORK
SOLAR JOBS
Key Data Points
Total Solar Jobs, 2015
8,250
Cumulative Installed
Capacity thru Q3 2015 (MW)20
569.8
Projected Solar
Jobs Growth, 2016
957
(11.6%)
Capacity Installed in
2015 thru Q3 (MW)21
173.0
Detailed employment and demographic data for New York's legislative districts, counties, and metropolitan statistical areas
can be found in the appendix of this report and on The Solar Foundations interactive jobs map at SolarStates.org.
Installation Jobs
WORKFORCE
OVERVIEW
5,829
Manufacturing Jobs
800
Sales & Distribution Jobs
974
Project Development Jobs
326
The New York solar industry employs 8,250

workers at 631 companies throughout the
state. The state is ranked 4th nationally in solar
jobs, and 21st in solar jobs as a share of the
states total employment. In 2016, employers
expect a continuation of the growth seen last
year of nearly 1,000 solar workers, adding
approximately 957 new solar workers to
payrolls over the next 12 months a growth
rate of 11.6%. By contrast, the states workforce
as a whole is projected to grow only 0.9% during
the same period.22
An overwhelming majority of New Yorks

solar firms (72.7%) report working primarily
on nonresidential solar projects, compared
to 21.8% for residential and 5.6% for utilityscale projects. Consequently, the proportion of
nonresidential employment (32.6%) is nearly
double the proportion of such jobs within this
sector nationally. New York solar jobs associated
with the more labor intensive residential projects
comprise a smaller share (44.4%) than such jobs
nationally (63.3%).
NY Solar Jobs, 2013 - 2016E

10,000
8,000
Other Jobs
322
7,284
6,000
4,000
8,250
9,207
5,210
2,000
0
2013
2014
2015
2016E
Nonetheless, residential installations comprised

a much larger share of new capacity in 2015
compared with non-residential (commercial).
The smaller share of non-residential capacity, and
Women
African-American
Asian or Pacific
Islander
Latino or Hispanic
Older Workers (55+)
Union Members
Veterans of the U.S.
Armed Forces
New York Solar

Workforce
New York Overall

Employment23
U.S. Solar
Workforce
26.9%
47.6%
23.8%
9.9%
8.9%
8.6%
4.0%
15.9%
5.1%
7.4%
15.7%
11.3%
18.8%
5.5%
13.5%
6.7%
The New York solar workforce is generally less

diverse than the states workforce as a whole,
with women (26.5%), African-Americans (4.0%),
Latinos (7.4%), and older workers (13.5%) all
relatively underrepresented. However, many of
these otherwise underserved demographics
women, African-Americans, Latinos, and older
workers are represented in the state workforce
at higher rates than their counterparts in the solar
industry nationwide.
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces represent a
uniquely valuable source of human capital for
solar employers. With a proven work ethic and
large number of non-residential firms suggests

that many of the non-residential solar developers
in New York are installing capacity in other states.
22.7%
4.1%
18.6%
8.1%
practiced discipline, veterans bring a wealth

of readily transferable skills and leadership
acumen to the industry. Through the Solar Ready
Vets program, the U.S. Department of Energy is
helping the industry capitalize on this resource
by facilitating the transition from military service
to employment in the civilian solar workforce.24
New York solar firms understand this value
proposition, with veterans comprising 6.7% of
the states solar workforce, compared to just
4.1% of the states total workforce, but they
are still slightly underrepresented in the state
compared to the solar workforce nationally
(8.1%).
Position
Solar Installer
Solar Sales Representative
Solar System Designer
Solar Assembly Worker
New York
Median Wage
Middle Atlantic
Division
Median Wage
U.S.
Median Wage
$18.00
$20.80
$21.00
$24.02
$24.52
$26.92
$24.04
$26.44
Wages paid by firms in the New York solar industry

are lower than those paid by solar employers
across the other states that comprise the U.S.
Census Bureaus Middle Atlantic Division25 and
the industry nationwide. Solar installers in the
state are among the lowest paid in the country,
at $18.00 per hour.
Solar employers in New York and throughout
the Middle Atlantic Division experience a
$28.85
$18.00
slightly higher level of difficulty on average

finding qualified candidates to fill openings on
their payrolls than other solar firms across the
country. This is not unexpected, given that solar
employers in New York had high requirements
for employment. The firms required that 92% of
positions have related work experience, compared
to only 67% for firms nationally.
Difficulty Hiring in New York

New York
Middle Atlantic
15.2%
54.3%
10.3%
National
57.7%
24.2%
0%
32.0%
51.7%
20%
Not Difficult
30.4%
40%
Somewhat Difficult
24.2%
60%
80%
100%
Very Difficult
Just over 47% of New York solar firms reported

that they receive all their revenues from solar
activities, which is similar to the national average
of 48.2%. Another 31.1% reported that they
receive less than half of their revenues from
solar activities, compared to 28.5% nationally. A
significantly smaller portion of the states solar
firms (38.0%) work primarily with in-state
customers than solar firms nationally (65.6%),
though a slightly larger portion (6.3%) work
primarily with customers in a bordering state than
solar firms nationally (5.0%). This out-of-state
activity helps to explain why a majority of firms
are focused on non-residential solar, yet more of
the 2015 installed capacity was in the residential
sector. Many of the non-residential firms are likely
focused on out-of-state customers.
pending, and proposed policies on their business

prospects. New York employers overwhelmingly
cite the federal investment tax credit (ITC) as
substantially contributing to their firms success,
with 76.8% of respondents referring to it directly.
The second most commonly cited policy is the
states renewable energy standard, at 54.9%.
The following section includes detailed

breakdowns of workforce data by sector. While
there are a number of New York solar firms
focusing on manufacturing, sales & distribution,
and other activities, these firms responded to
the survey in insufficient numbers to provide
statistically significant data for each individual
sector. However, there was sufficient data to
discuss the installation and project development
sectors.
As part of the 2015 Census effort, employers

were asked about the impacts of specific existing,
Businesses Citing Policies Contributing to Success

Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
Other Tax Exemptions, Credits, & Rebates
EPA Clean Power Plan
Grants and loans
0%
10%
New York
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
National
Sector Jobs
5,829
Projected Change
During 2016
+665
Projected Rate of Change

During 2016
+11.4%
INSTALLATION
The installation sector is
the largest sector of the
U.S. solar industry and is
composed of companies that
primarily install PV, solar
water heating, and other
solar energy technologies.
The installation sector is responsible for more
than 70% of all solar employment in New York,
employing 5,829 workers. By comparison, the
installation sector represents 57% of total U.S.
solar jobs.
Establishments
1,185
NY Installation Jobs, 2014 2016E

7,000
6,000
5,829
5,000
4,000
6,494
4,660
3,000
Solar Installer
Median Wage
$18/hr
2,000
1,000
0
2014
2015
2016E
10
Installation Sector - Difficulty Hiring
NY Installation
12.5%
U.S. Installation
50.0%
19.7%
54.2%
20%
0%
37.5%
Not Difficult
40%
60%
Somewhat Difficult
New York installation firms report greater levels

of difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill
openings on their payrolls than firms in other
sectors of the states solar industry, as well as
other firms in the installation sector nationwide.
A significantly smaller percentage of New York
installation firms (63.3%) work primarily with
in-state customers than their counterparts in
26.0%
80%
100%
Very Difficult
the installation sector nationwide (81.5%). A

larger percentage of installation firms in the
state are pure play solar businesses, receiving
100% of their revenue from solar activities,
than installation firms across the country. This
diversification, both of business activity and
customer base, may in part be a reaction by
employers to the recent uncertainty in the local
market.
Installation Sector - % Revenues from Solar
NY Installation
7.7%
U.S. Installation
26.9%
11.7% 7.2%
0%
20%
1-24%
Pure Plays, 65.4%
22.1%
Pure Plays, 59.0%
40%
25-49%
60%
50-99%
80%
100%
Pure Plays
11
Sector Jobs
326
Projected Change
During 2016
+49
Projected Rate of Change

During 2016
+15.0%
PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT
The project development

sector includes companies
that plan, design, and build
large
commercialand
utility-scale solar projects.
The project development sector is responsible
for nearly 4.0% of all solar employment in New
York, employing 326 workers. The sector is also
responsible for 7.9% of the solar establishments
in New York.
Establishments
244
NY Project Development Jobs,

2014 - 2016E
1,000
800
844
600
400
Solar System Designer

Median Wage
$24.02/hr
326
200
375
0
2014
2015
2016E
12
Project Development Sector - Difficulty Hiring
NY Project Development
11.1%
U.S. Project Development
55.6%
21.4%
0%
54.1%
20%
Not Difficult
33.3%
40%
Somewhat Difficult
New York project developers report greater

levels of difficulty finding qualified candidates
to fill openings on their payrolls than firms on
average across the states solar industry more
broadly, as well as other firms in the project
development sector nationwide.
A significantly smaller percentage of New

York project development firms (55.6%)
24.5%
60%
80%
100%
Very Difficult
work primarily with in-state customers than

their counterparts in the project development
sector nationwide (74.9%). A slightly higher
percentage of project development firms in the
state are pure play solar businesses, receiving
100% of their revenue from solar activities, than
project development firms across the country.
Project Development Sector - % Revenues from Solar
14.5%
0%
1-24%
30.3%
7.8%
U.S. Project Development
6.1%
6.1%
NY Project Development
20%
25-49%
Pure Plays, 57.6%
23.1%
Pure Plays, 54.6%
40%
60%
50-99%
Pure Plays
80%
100%
13
CONCLUSION
As solar installations continue to grow, so too will
the solar workforce. Nationally, solar employers
expect to grow their payrolls by 31,000 workers
in 2016, a rate of more than 14%. While New
York-based solar employers expect to grow
by a slightly lower 11.6%, the New York solar
workforce will likely remain within, or close to,
the top 5 states nationally, and at the top within
the Middle Atlantic region for the foreseeable
future.
Given the numerous policy changes occurring in
New York, experts remain guarded about short
term growth in the non-residential market;
however, the residential market is expected
to continue to be a strong source of demand.
Despite the new policy regime, the solar industry
is likely to learn from and adapt to these new
market forces. That process will be made easier
by Governor Cuomos $5 billion commitment
to funding clean energy market development,
education, research, and new financing tools
which will likely reduce the cost of solar and
attract new sources of private capital.
The Reforming the Energy Vision process can be
viewed as a significant opportunity to the New
York solar industry. There will be challenges
especially
for
non-residential
projects.
Nonetheless, the states policies are strong when
compared with other state regulatory struggles
regarding changes to net metering tariffs and
new fees on net metered solar installations.
With the extension of the Investment Tax Credit,
growth of more advanced financing products
like solar loans and Property Assessed Clean
Energy, falling solar costs, and ongoing statesponsored development of new pathways for
distributed energy resources like solar, solar
employment in New York is expected to grow by
some 957 workers in 2016.
In order to sustain this future growth, it is

essential that New York employers have ready
access to quality talent and skilled labor or
enhance their on-the-job training offerings. To
achieve this, more focused and comprehensive
solar training efforts in-house, in-state,
and across the country must be sufficiently
emphasized. Albany is beginning to lead in this
effort, with the recent announcement of the
Clean Energy Workforce Opportunity Program
Solar employment in New

York is expected to grow
by 957 workers in 2016.
bringing together public and private sector

entities to develop an industry-recognized
training and certification program, but more will
need to be done.26 If successfully implemented,
these efforts would reduce the industrys
talent acquisition, training, and retention costs,
increasing efficiency across the solar value
chain, and ultimately reducing costs for New
York solar customers.
This research shows that the New York solar
industry is a source of economic opportunity,
with the potential to create jobs that pay living
wages and are largely available to individuals
of different backgrounds from across the state.
Only regular reexaminations of the states solar
industry, its workforce, and the employment
opportunities presented herein will confirm
this potential is realized in years to come.
14
APPENDIX
STATE CENSUS METHODOLOGY AND DATA SOURCES
The Solar Jobs Census methodology is the most
closely aligned with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology for its Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and
Current Employment Statistics (CES). Like BLS,
this study uses survey questionnaires and employer-reported data, though ours are administered by phone and web, as opposed to mail.
Also like BLS, we develop a hierarchy of various categories that represent solar value chain
activities (within their broader NAICS framework), develop representative sample frames,
and use statistical analysis and extrapolation in
a very similar manner to BLS. We also constrain
our universe of establishments by relying on
the most recent data from the BLS or the state
departments of labor, depending on which is
collected most recently. We believe that the categories that we have developed could be readily adopted by BLS should it choose to begin to
quantify solar employment in its QCEW and CES
series.
The results from the overall 2015 Census effort
are based on rigorous survey efforts that include
287,962 telephone calls and over 44,220 emails
to known and potential energy establishments
across the United States, resulting in a total of
2,350 full completions for solar establishments
in the U.S. Unlike economic impact models that
generate employment estimates based on economic data or jobs-per-megawatt (or jobs-perdollar) assumptions, the Solar Jobs Census series provides statistically valid and current data
gathered from actual employers.
The survey was administered to a known universe of energy employers that includes 68,494
establishments and is derived from the Solar
Energy Industry Associations National Solar
Database, as well as other public and private
sources. Of these establishments, 2,118 identified as solar and completed full or substantially
completed surveys.
The survey was also administered to a stratified, clustered, random sampling from various
industries that are potentially energy-related
(unknown universe) that include a total of approximately 314,000 establishments nationwide. After an extensive cleaning and de-duplication process, a sampling plan was developed
that gathered information on the level of solar
activity (including none) from 12,765 establishments. Of these, 327 establishments qualified
as solar establishments and completed full surveys. The sampling rigor in the known and unknown universes provides a margin of error for
establishment counts at +/-0.85% and employment at +/-1.99% at a 95% confidence interval.
This level of national sampling rigor is mirrored at the state level. In addition to the known
Census, the clustered sampling in the unknown
universe is representative relative to establishment totals by size in each of the 50 states and
the District of Columbia. This ensures that each
states employment estimates are accurate with
a maximum margin of error under +/-5% at a
95% confidence interval.
Due to the number of qualifying responses,

some smaller states have higher margins of error for non-employment related questions, such
as workforce and policy related questions, due
to the small universe of solar establishments in
each state. As a result, some state-level, non-employment data is reported using regional averages or have footnotes denoting small response
sizes.
15
GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF DATA

In addition to the statewide results detailed
herein, the Solar Jobs Census 2015 effort
compiled comprehensive information about the
distribution of solar workers across each state.
The Solar Jobs Census 2015 companion website,
SolarStates.org, houses solar jobs data for each
state and the District of Columbia. Here, the
employment data have been broken out and
represented in map form at the state, federal

congressional district, state legislative district,
metropolitan statistical area, and county
levels. What follows are tables presenting
the employment counts and demographic
breakdowns of the workforce at each specified
level of granularity previously mentioned.
NEW YORK FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

District
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
Asian or
Pacific
Islanders
Older
Veterans of
Latino or
Union
Workers
the US Armed
Hispanic
Members
(55+)
Forces
681
187
26
69
50
98
134
43
378
104
15
38
28
54
74
24
334
400
99
164
91
110
27
45
13
15
4
6
430
118
17
652
179
25
55
15
95
56
127
788
96
56
211
26
15
35
216
26
15
58
4
2
5
30
4
2
8
522
143
20
684
178
29
405
372
219
228
257
274
251
275
139
105
97
57
59
67
71
65
71
36
17
16
9
10
11
12
11
12
6
34
41
10
17
44
10
6
25
30
7
12
32
7
4
66
48
13
80
10
6
21
24
26
24
26
13
62
14
8
39
30
50
16
17
19
20
18
20
10
66
79
19
32
85
19
11
21
25
6
10
27
6
4
94
128
41
11
18
27
21
24
35
64
14
113
16
38
58
58
21
53
48
14
30
25
155
19
11
28
119
31
45
27
33
30
33
17
65
82
26
13
103
45
50
42
75
49
71
38
40
48
44
48
24
33
30
51
16
17
19
20
19
20
10
16
NEW YORK STATE SENATE

District
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
197
257
54
14
125
34
69
19
122
33
79
22
110
30
140
38
45
12
22
16
183
50
54
15
89
24
22
20
28
39
13
10
10
71
264
15
72
260
51
15
10
5
3
5
3
4
5
2
1
1
0
14
10
5
2
1
3
2
1
16
6
3
2
1
3
2
2
7
13
7
3
5
1
6
204
5
2
4
1
4
10
9
4
25
19
66
4
2
2
10
72
23
27
2
8
19
12
13
10
149
14
11
77
25
37
17
76
135
56
53
69
29
27
265
39
37
32
13
1
2
14
118
10
105
101
10
27
40
3
13
369
35
22
20
15
11
13
16
11
24
13
10
17
13
19
10
25
17
18
58
18
51
17
12
64
12
11
284
49
12
37
52
25
36
15
26
12
36
13
19
38
78
16
26
106
68
26
19
57
51
14
388
1,038
27
30
37
19
19
45
41
19
68
48
26
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
20
10
109
Union
Members
70
400
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
17
32
11
7
23
46
3
1
4
2
7
20
17
District
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
District
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
120
33
12
220
57
21
152
128
221
114
351
113
51
55
220
117
98
18
108
111
132
104
58
148
120
63
64
11
40
33
57
30
6
5
9
5
91
15
14
29
13
57
30
26
5
28
29
34
27
15
39
31
16
17
3
5
2
24
16
26
38
21
16
33
11
5
5
9
8
26
8
4
4
18
15
26
14
42
14
6
7
21
16
26
5
4
11
9
10
10
5
6
2
6
5
3
3
0
10
9
7
8
8
12
10
14
11
11
6
1
8
4
9
5
1
14
12
13
13
16
12
7
18
14
8
8
1
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
17
11
11
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
14
12
Union
Members
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
27
11
38
16
22
20
61
20
9
10
16
8
26
8
4
4
38
16
20
17
19
19
9
7
8
8
23
10
26
11
11
18
10
21
11
2
8
4
9
5
1
Union
Members
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
116
32
12
17
23
39
11
50
121
253
63
49
51
95
124
11
3
14
33
2
5
69
10
14
17
13
26
34
3
1
2
2
12
19
6
5
10
26
4
5
13
1
5
4
17
36
9
7
7
14
9
1
18
2
10
24
3
8
50
16
10
12
10
19
24
2
1
4
3
6
8
1
0
18
District
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
266
73
10
27
20
38
52
17
129
35
13
10
18
25
65
23
12
103
17
122
28
7
32
18
6
3
28
5
33
8
2
9
50
14
65
18
46
26
30
31
12
7
8
8
96
26
2
0
14
1
19
1
3
0
0
0
0
4
0
5
0
1
0
0
88
24
40
11
21
17
29
20
0
16
56
22
51
6
5
8
5
0
5
15
6
14
2
1
0
4
5
1
0
1
2
2
1
3
1
1
7
2
1
10
12
3
1
3
5
5
3
7
3
3
10
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
1
1
2
1
1
0
0
1
2
1
2
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
9
2
2
4
3
2
0
0
2
6
2
5
5
2
1
8
9
2
0
2
4
9
3
2
15
17
4
1
5
13
5
2
20
3
24
5
1
6
10
13
14
19
3
2
5
2
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
7
4
4
4
0
0
2
0
3
0
0
0
0
9
5
6
6
0
0
3
0
4
0
1
0
0
13
17
2
1
2
1
0
0
1
4
2
4
3
2
4
3
0
0
2
8
3
7
4
3
6
4
0
0
3
11
4
10
4
1
1
7
1
8
2
0
2
3
3
2
4
2
2
6
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
6
1
1
3
2
1
0
0
1
4
1
3
19
District
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
15
18
16
66
18
48
0
13
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
3
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
0
0
7
5
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
5
4
0
0
3
1
0
2
0
0
4
1
0
3
0
0
13
7
0
9
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
4
3
0
0
363
100
14
37
27
52
71
23
28
59
233
16
64
15
5
2
4
1
2
9
0
0
1
0
24
0
1
1
0
17
0
1
1
0
33
0
1
2
1
12
46
0
2
3
1
15
0
1
1
0
587
161
23
60
43
84
115
37
54
223
36
39
7
17
12
11
0
17
6
0
0
15
61
10
11
2
5
3
3
0
5
2
0
0
133
37
74
20
70
13
243
19
4
67
2
9
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
23
4
4
1
2
1
1
0
2
1
0
0
16
3
3
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
32
5
6
1
2
2
2
0
2
1
0
0
11
44
7
8
1
3
2
2
0
3
1
0
0
14
10
19
26
11
15
3
1
9
7
1
25
5
1
18
10
2
35
14
3
48
14
2
2
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
8
4
1
5
15
20
District
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
69
19
10
14
118
32
12
17
23
16
13
21
54
19
15
71
175
37
91
66
135
39
39
26
112
87
70
103
288
82
29
58
45
42
35
18
5
15
5
4
18
45
10
24
17
35
10
10
7
29
23
18
27
53
65
88
5
60
74
35
2
4
12
11
9
5
1
9
21
11
15
14
17
23
1
16
19
9
6
2
1
7
3
9
4
1
1
5
3
7
13
10
2
2
4
4
10
10
4
3
59
15
21
24
42
12
10
80
75
39
33
3
2
2
1
1
0
2
1
3
1
2
2
2
3
4
0
3
3
1
8
7
3
3
2
1
4
3
7
2
4
5
5
6
8
1
6
7
3
11
16
5
5
3
12
6
2
3
3
3
1
0
3
2
35
10
4
7
5
5
4
2
1
5
4
7
7
15
12
8
7
6
3
1
7
6
11
15
0
4
3
8
1
7
4
6
5
8
10
14
10
21
50
10
14
24
10
3
6
2
12
16
18
13
12
10
30
19
5
4
13
21
11
27
8
4
7
9
11
1
10
13
6
6
2
3
3
3
1
0
3
2
6
2
3
4
4
5
7
0
4
5
3
21
District
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Islanders
(55+)
Union
Members
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
62
16
11
38
10
61
16
13
62
16
50
13
67
17
100
26
43
11
27
34
46
12
5
2
2
12
17
30
12
7
3
15
33
11
11
29
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS

Metropolitan
Statistical Area
AlbanySchenectadyTroy, NY
Binghamton, NY
Buffalo-Niagara
Falls, NY
Elmira, NY
Glens Falls, NY
Ithaca, NY
Kingston, NY
New YorkNorthern New
Jersey-Long
Island, NY-NJ-PA
NY NONMETROPOLITAN AREA
PoughkeepsieNewburghMiddletown, NY
Rochester, NY
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
Asian or
Latino
Older
Veterans of
Union
Pacific
or
Workers
the US Armed
Members
Islanders Hispanic
(55+)
Forces
470
122
20
44
34
56
82
35
366
95
15
34
27
44
64
27
59
15
10
5,239
1,434
202
531
387
751
1,028
333
750
195
32
70
55
90
131
56
360
94
15
34
26
43
63
27
93
25
47
96
411
24
6
12
25
107
4
1
2
4
17
9
2
4
9
38
7
2
3
7
30
11
3
6
11
49
16
4
8
17
72
7
2
4
7
30
22
Metropolitan
Statistical Area
Syracuse, NY
Utica-Rome, NY
County
Albany
Allegany
Bronx
Broome
Cattaraugus
Cayuga
Chautauqua
Chemung
Chenango
Clinton
Columbia
Cortland
Delaware
Dutchess
Erie
Essex
Franklin
Fulton
Genesee
Greene
Hamilton
Herkimer
Jefferson
Kings
Lewis
Livingston
Madison
Monroe
Montgomery
Nassau
New York
Niagara
Oneida
Onondaga
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
252
65
82
21
11
3
Asian or
Latino
Older
Veterans of
Union
Pacific
or
Workers
the US Armed
Members
Islanders Hispanic
(55+)
Forces
24
8
18
6
NEW YORK COUNTIES
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
30
10
44
14
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Union
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Members
Islanders
(55+)
19
6
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
208
54
19
15
25
36
15
81
21
10
14
146
23
23
40
6
6
48
12
29
25
16
32
13
22
6
4
8
3
6
158
41
15
307
16
21
18
15
3
12
32
0
6
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
8
4
2
1
3
3
1
2
2
2
3
2
1
2
2
1
2
3
3
6
3
2
3
4
2
3
29
4
4
8
4
3
5
6
2
4
1
9
2
2
4
2
1
2
2
1
2
19
28
12
21
12
6
4
11
15
13
15
80
4
1
1
1
0
1
1
29
2
2
2
1
0
1
3
22
1
2
1
1
0
1
2
37
2
3
2
2
0
1
4
53
3
4
3
3
1
2
6
23
1
2
1
1
0
1
2
427
117
16
43
32
61
84
27
20
16
272
278
2
4
20
445
63
165
120
19
15
72
18
25
67
201
11
222
60
71
812
1,627
16
52
12
31
3
3
26
82
6
6
20
1
2
32
33
1
3
20
319
103
35
15
48
116
159
12
24
47
60
233
10
21
52
4
5
23
County
Ontario
Orange
Orleans
Oswego
Otsego
Putnam
Queens
Rensselaer
Richmond
Rockland
Saratoga
Schenectady
Schoharie
Schuyler
Seneca
St Lawrence
Steuben
Suffolk
Sullivan
Tioga
Tompkins
Ulster
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Westchester
Wyoming
Yates
Total
AfricanWomen
Employment
American
39
10
31
249
6
19
47
Asian or
Older
Latino or
Union
Pacific
Workers
Hispanic
Members
Islanders
(55+)
4
Veterans of
the US Armed
Forces
3
65
10
23
18
30
43
18
13
0
1
2
1
3
5
0
2
3
1
4
7
1
5
9
0
2
3
412
113
16
42
30
59
81
26
131
36
13
10
19
26
97
112
86
70
14
5
9
23
23
25
31
22
18
4
1
2
6
6
4
4
4
3
1
0
0
1
1
11
8
7
0
1
2
2
7
8
6
5
0
1
2
2
12
16
10
8
2
1
1
3
3
17
22
15
12
3
1
2
4
4
7
7
6
5
1
0
1
2
2
913
250
35
93
67
131
179
58
47
12
27
33
12
100
29
27
613
10
9
9
3
26
8
7
168
3
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
24
0
0
3
1
9
3
3
3
62
1
1
2
1
4
1
6
2
12
17
2
2
45
1
1
3
3
88
1
1
5
5
120
2
2
2
1
7
2
2
2
39
1
1
24
ENDNOTES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015

The residential, non-residential, and utility-scale market segments are defined by SEIA based on the offtaker of
the electricity their systems generate, though they can generally be used interchangeably with small-scale (i.e.
single-family household rooftop systems, no more than a handful of kilowatts), medium-scale (i.e. multi-unit,
commercial, or government rooftop system), and large-scale (i.e. ground-mounted or very large rooftop systems
ranging from several hundred kilowatts to several hundred megawatts in capacity).
The New York Solar Jobs Census 2014 can be found at www.TSFCensus.org.
State of New York Public Service Commission. (2015, February 26). Order Adopting Regulatory Policy
Framework and Implementation Plan for a reformed retail electric industry. Retrieved on January 22, 2016,
http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId=%7b0B599D87-445B-4197-981524C27623A6A0%7d
Savenije, D. (2015, July 29). NY regulators propose groundbreaking new utility models under landmark
REV order. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, http://www.utilitydive.com/news/ny-regulators-proposegroundbreaking-new-utility-models-under-landmark-rev/403111/
State of New York Public Service Commission. (2015, April 17). Order granting a rehearing, establishing a
transition plan for remote net metering, and other findings. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, from http://
documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId=%7B12D9EA05-7A97-45C9-B8EFF634731A4276%7D
State of New York Department of Public Service. (2015, July 28). Staff White Paper on Ratemaking and Utility
Business Models. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, from https://www.energymarketers.com/Documents/NY_REV_
Track_2_paper.pdf
NY-SUN. Community Distributed Generation: Overview for Project Developers. Retrieved on January 22, 2016,
from http://ny-sun.ny.gov/-/media/NYSun/files/Contractor%20Resources/Community-Distributed-GenerationProject-Developers.pdf
Trabish, H. (2015, October 21). NY regulators lift solar net metering caps until REV docket sets DER values.
Retrieved on January 22, 2015, from http://www.utilitydive.com/news/ny-regulators-lift-solar-net-meteringcaps-until-rev-docket-sets-der-values/407667/
Id.
NC Clean Energy Technology Center/Meister Consultants Group. (2015, Q3). The 50 States of Solar: A Quarterly
Look At Americas Fast-Evolving Distributed Solar Policy Conversation. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, from
https://nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/50-States-of-Solar-Q3-FINAL_25.pdf
New York Public Services Commission. (2015, September 17). Petitioning Requesting Change in Residential
PV Net-Metering Anniversary Month Rule. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, from http://documents.dps.ny.gov/
public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId={31FBAD32-538B-40EB-986D-64038BF7B87E
New York Public Services Commission. (2016, January 27). Joint Petition for Change in Residential PV NetMetering Anniversary Month Rule. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, from http://www3.dps.ny.gov/W/PSCWeb.
nsf/All/B428BB2B680CD9B485257687006F3890?OpenDocument
SEIA - New York Solar. Retrieved on January, 22, 2016, from http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/new-york
New York Energy Research and Development Authority. (2015, October 8). Governor Cuomo, Joined by
Vice President Gore, Announces New Actions to Reduce Greehouse Gas Emissions and Lead Nation on
Climate Change. Retrieved on January 22, 2016, from http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2015Announcements/2015-10-08-Governor-Cuomo-VP-Gore-Announce-Actions-to-Reduce-Greenhouse-Gas
It is important to note that these projections were based on employer-reported hiring plans for 2016 that may
have since changed in light of the extension of the federal investment tax credit in December of 2015.
ENDNOTES
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Id.
JobsEQ 2015Q3
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by state 2014
Annual Averages and Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by state 2014 Annual Averages.
Found at: http://www.bls.gov/
See, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Ready Vets. Available at: http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-readyvets
U.S Census Bureau, Geographic Terms and Concepts - Census Divisions and Census Regions. Found at: https://
www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.html
Waldman, S. (2016, January 13). Administration plans to train 10,000 for clean energy workforce. Retrieved
February 07, 2016, from http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2016/01/8587813/administrationplans-train-10000-clean-energy-workforce
Photo courtesy of Grid Alternatives
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Unless otherwise noted, all design, text, graphics, and the selection and arrangement thereof are Copyright February 2016 by The Solar Foundation
and BW Research Partnership. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials in this report, including reproduction, modification, distribution, or
republication, without the prior written consent of The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership, is strictly prohibited.
For questions about this report, please contact Andrea Luecke at The Solar Foundation, aluecke@solarfound.org.
The Solar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies on public support. To learn more about supporting The Solar Foundations work, go to
www.TheSolarFoundation.org/donate/
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2015

ABOUT THE SOLAR FOUNDATION

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY

Database and peer review; and GTM Research/

Other sponsors of this years Census effort

Finally, we want to thank all the New York

For questions or comments about this report, please contact either:

Photo courtesy of Ross Solar Group

have continued to expand the size of their

U.S. PV Capacity Additions & Solar Jobs, 2010 - 2015E

Added Capacity (MW)

Capacity Data Source: SEIA/GTM Research Solar Market Insight Q3 2015