Our Impact

GSREIA is the driving force behind renewable energy and energy storage, and is building a strong industry to power the Gulf States Region through advocacy and education. GSREIA represents all organizations that promote, manufacture, install and support the development of renewable energy and energy storage. GSREIA works with its member companies to build jobs and champion the use of cost-competitive energy in the Gulf States, remove market barriers and foster new market entrants.

Recent successes include:

· Approval of Utility Scale Solar Projects

· Consumer Choice Dockets

· Passage of Solar for Schools (MS)

· Renewable Energy Lease Statutory Changes

· Regulatory Changes to Enable Offshore Wind Leases in State and Federal Waters (La)

· Model Local Solar Siting Ordinances

The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2018 is the ninth annual report on the size and scope of the American solar workforce. Based on a rigorous survey of solar employers, it is the most comprehensive analysis of solar labor market trends in the United States.

As of 2018, the National Solar Jobs Census found:

The United States has 242,343 solar workers, defined as those who spend 50% or more of their time on solar-related work.

Solar employment declined by nearly 8,000 jobs, or 3.2 percent, since 2017. Overall, the solar workforce has grown 159 percent since the first Census was released in 2010, adding nearly 150,000 jobs.

Solar jobs increased in 29 states in 2018, including many states with emerging solar markets. States with the highest employment gains include Florida, Illinois, Texas, and New York State.

With a backlog of utility-scale projects and new policy incentives in key states, the outlook for solar jobs is expected to improve in 2019. Survey respondents predict that solar jobs will increase 7 percent in 2019, bringing the total to 259,400 jobs.