Solar Industry Booming
A survey conducted by two research college students in California indicates that the solar industry is doing very well for the most populous state.
They surveyed 212 solar companies in the state, of which 77 of them were in the Bay Area. The solar energy industry has created jobs for installers, engineers, and other miscellaneous working class jobs. These are jobs that have been lost over the years and the conclusion based from the industry survey is that there aren't enough workers. An estimated 5,000 jobs could be created by next year.
The salaries would vary upon level of experience. Entry-level solar installers make a median salary of $31,200 per year, while more experienced installers earn up to $60,000 a year. Experienced solar designers and engineers earn a median salary of $83,000. These are great salaries for people with different skills. Most of the jobs like solar installers would not require a degree to qualify for the job.
Currently the two researchers estimated that California employs between 16,500 and 17,500 people already. California will require energy companies to diversify their energy portfolio through 20% renewable energy like solar, wind, and geothermal energy. But some California legislators are thinking about increasing the renewable portfolio standard to 33% by 2020. If California does enact such a law, they will be truly be a model for the rest of the country.
The California solar industry has even expanded into nearby states for cheaper manufacturing plants. With this industry on the rise, it may be wise for people to position themselves to catch the wave of this new and exciting market.
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Great post, and this is a good sign of things to come.
The U.S. generates for almost 1/4 of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, to present, federal restrictions have not yet been placed on GHG emissions. There have been initiatives introduced for embryonic carbon trading markets. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is an obligatory system for reducing carbon emissions from U.S. power plants in the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Caps will go in effect in 2009 and emissions trading will be a key component of the structure.
In California, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 mandates the creation of a multi-industry structure to reduce GHG emissions in California to 1990 levels by 2020. It appears that emissions trading will be a component of the system that may be linked with the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). In January 2005, the EU ETS commenced operation as the largest multi nation, multi-industry greenhouse gas emission trading system in the world.
For a complete discussion of global warming and sustainability, check out http://www.onebiosphere.com
In the U.S., which lacks a binding federal carbon trading system, the private Chicago Climate Exchange that is owned by Climate Exchange plc is attempting to create a voluntary carbon exchange for North American and Brazil by utilizing independent verification to allow institutions and individuals to trade carbon reduction credits.
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