11 Feb Austin Energy: Grow, Don’t Choke Our Local Solar Jobs Industry

A new report from The Solar Foundation (TSF) finds more than 4,100 Texans are now working in the solar power industry, marking a 28 percent increase in solar jobs in one year. In addition, Texas has moved up to sixth place in national rankings for solar jobs, from eighth in 2012. Growth in Texas solar power has been spurred by strong public policy, public and private investment that will continue to pay dividends and create jobs.

You’d be hard pressed to deny that Austin is pulling its weight when it comes to setting smart solar policy to help develop the local green jobs market. But did you know that Austin Energy is considering softening our commitment to solar power?

“We want to see these positive figures increase in Austin over the next ten years, and we’re counting on municipal utilities like Austin Energy to lead the way by not rolling back job-creating solar policies,” said Dave Cortez, Organizing Representative for the Austin Beyond Coal Campaign. “When Value of Solar and our 10 year solar goals are scaled back or softened, that creates confusion. It drives down investment and kills well-paying jobs in Austin’s solar industry.”

As we debate our ten year energy plan, we can accelerate this clean economy job growth by strengthening the value of solar tariff and expanding our solar goals to 400 megawatts by 2024.

Programs like the Value of Solar Tariff are essential for making sure we place an adequate value on electrons generated by the sun over those generated by 20^th century fossil fuels like coal and gas. Its long overdue for a “green” city like Austin to factor into this tariff the value of water savings, carbon reduction, and local economic development.

What’s more, the Local Solar Advisory Committee adopted a set of recommendations for our city solar goals to be raised to 400 MWs, yet Austin Energy is currently proposing to adopt only half that amount.

We can’t count on the Texas legislature to adopt policies that support job-creating, drought proof energy resources like solar, so it is critical that Austin take up the mantle and further expand our local clean economy jobs market.

The process for updating the city’s energy generation plan is underway. Be sure to join us for the kickoff of the “Our Power, Our Generation” campaign this Saturday, February 15^th from 10 am to 12 noon at the Carver Public Library (1161 Angelina St). Come for the tacos! The discussion! And to learn how you can get involved in the campaign. RSVP here and see you Saturday!

The National Solar Jobs Census 2013 was conducted by TSF and BW Research Partnership with support from the GW Solar Institute. The report, derived from data collected from more than 2,081 solar firms, measured employment growth in the solar industry between September 2012 and November 2013. The margin of error for this data set is +/- 1.3%, significantly lower than any similar national industry study.