Live Florida

Solar Jobs Might Come To Florida

Solar energy makes a lot of sense for Florida. A new study says that the solar industry could spawn 85,500 new jobs. That’s if Florida adopts a proposed requirement that 20% of the state’s energy comes from renewable sources b 2020.

That would be good news for a state that has been hammered bad by the current economic crisis.

Gwen Rose, deputy director of The Vote Solar Initiative, said the jobs estimate comes from a study by Navigant Consulting that showed more than 3,800 megawatts of solar power could be generated if the state goes to the 20 percent standard. According to Navigant, with each megawatt yielding 15 to 30 direct jobs, that translates into 57,000 to 114,000 direct jobs — 85,500 is the mid-range.

Today, Vote Solar placed a job listing in the Classifieds section of newspapers around the state, including The Palm Beach Post, stating: “HELP WANTED: 85,000 electricians, engineers, sales to staff the new solar energy economy. Apply at Legislature. Ask for strong solar energy policies.”

Florida residents will know the outcome by May 2009. For a state as sunny as Florida, expanding the solar energy seems to be a no-brainer.