(Reuters) - The U.S. solar industry lost nearly 10,000 jobs last year, led by steep losses in mature markets like California and Massachusetts where installation growth has slowed, according to a new report published on Wednesday.
It was the first time employment has contracted in the fast-growing industry since the non-profit research firm The Solar Foundation began tracking solar jobs in 2010.
Nationwide, solar employment fell 3.8 percent to 250,271 jobs in 2017 from a high of 260,077 in 2016. A drop in both utility-scale and residential solar installations, as well as industry jitters about tariffs on imported solar panels, were to blame for the decline, the report said.
Employment in the solar industry far outpaces that of the coal, wind and nuclear energy industries, the report said, citing federal jobs data.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
solar industry takes a hit
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With Trump cutting taxes and rolling up deficits, folks will save more and spend less. They're afraid, and they should be.
ReplyDeleteWe’s need a good analysis of the solar industry to know if this is at all problematic.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that there’re phases to the solar industry. Does the 10k layoff mean that there was an installation phase that will not be needed again for some 10 years?
As to olcharlies’ speculation, it could be completely wrong. Solar panels don’t work until the complete installation is obviously cost effective.
For example, in my case the installation and maintaince expenses would far outweigh the benefits for the life of the few panels I’d be able to have installed. Evidently the tax breaks don’t reach down to my level.