Like many other durable products and construction materials, PV modules can be reused or refurbished for a ‘second life’ of generating electricity for many more years. In addition, recalculations of the withdrawal fee structure could go a long way in reforming the process. New innovations in artificial intelligence could help to speed study times without compromising the safety and reliability of the grid. In addition, fairness and accountability must be at the heart of any reforms as monopoly utilities and transmission owners currently have no incentives to process applications in a timely manner.Īnd finally, these challenges aren’t happening in a vacuum. Right now, the interconnection process for developers is largely a blind process and all parties involved need better information about grid conditions and capacity constraints. To reduce interconnection delays across the country, we must focus on creating a clear, transparent, and efficient process for generators and transmission owners alike. The fixes could help interconnection customers make more informed decisions before entering the queue and help to promote accountability for utilities and transmission providers by setting firm study deadlines, creating enforceable requirements, and establishing penalties for failing to evaluate an interconnection application in a timely manner. 2023 which contains new rules that could significantly reduce interconnection delays if they’re implemented properly. In July 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) took a big step forward by issuing Order No. This process, known as interconnection, is one of the biggest things holding back the clean energy transition. To date, more than 2 terawatts of generation and storage are waiting for the greenlight to connect to the grid. The results of the survey will serve as an important foundation as we strive to grow the solar workforce to four times its current size by the end of the decade. For the first time in four years, the industry has launched a new workforce satisfaction survey to help identify opportunity and equity gaps to ensure everyone has access to a successful career in this industry.

The first step in delivering these opportunities is benchmarking our progress. We must also focus on retaining these workers and creating clear pathways for promotion and other wealth building and business ownership opportunities. While the United States still has a long way to go, it’s clear that workers see the solar and storage sector as a stable source of good, family-supporting careers.

To do this, the industry must focus our efforts on equitably hiring, training and retaining the next generation of workers.Īccording to the National Solar Jobs Census, America’s solar workforce is already attracting younger workers and outpaces the rest of the economy when it comes to hiring Gen Z workers.

To meet these ambitious goals, the solar workforce must grow from 263,000 Americans today to over one million workers by the end of the decade.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is helping to chart this path forward and create solutions that will build on our progress and rocket us to our 2030 goals. electricity generation by 2030, the industry must proactively address the economic, political, and environmental challenges that lie ahead. Three years into the Solar+ Decade, the solar and storage industry has achieved unprecedented momentum resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act, with more than $20 billion invested in domestic manufacturing.īut in order for solar and storage to comprise 30% of U.S. This expansion is underpinned by the industry’s steadfast commitment to purposeful, proactive growth. While this growth has been quick, it has not been haphazard. America’s solar and storage industry is - by any metric - booming.

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