Solar Foundation: Oregon Falls out of Top-10 in Solar Job Numbers

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Environment Oregon

Portland – Oregon has more than 2,700 people employed manufacturing and installing pollution-free solar energy, according to a national Solar Jobs Census released today by The Solar Foundation. Unfortunately, according to the analysis, Oregon lost ground in 2013 dropping from 6th to 11th in the nation for solar jobs per capita. 

“The sun is an unlimited energy source that could provide all of our energy without the air and water pollution associated with coal, oil and gas,” said Charlie Fisher with Environment Oregon.  “If we want the solar industry to continue putting people to work to meet a growing percentage of our energy needs we need to set big solar goals and get good policies on the books.”

Solar is on the rise across the country.  This progress is directly attributable to the commitment by state and their leaders to the development of solar energy.  Environment Oregon Research and Policy Center released a report in January (http://environmentoregoncenter.org/reports/ore/lighting-way) emphasizing that it is not the availability of sunlight that makes states solar leaders, but the degree to which state and local governments have created effective public policies.

 “The sky’s the limit on solar. But, right now only a small fraction our energy comes from solar,” said Fisher. “To take it to the next level, we need to rally around a bigger vision on solar while defending and improving the programs that work today”