The number of North Carolinians employed in solar energy industry jobs increased more than 121 percent in 2013, boosting the state into the top 10 among states for total solar jobs, according to a new report from the Solar Foundation.

 

North Carolina now employs 3,100 people in solar jobs, up from, 1,400 in 2012, according to the foundation’s annual Solar Census. North Carolina is no. 10 behind Colorado. In 2012, the annual census ranked North Carolina no. 18 in solar jobs.

The growth is consistent with the annual report compiled by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, or NCSEA. The group last month reported that North Carolina’s clean energy industry is comprised of 570 companies employing more than 18,000 workers which generated more than $3.5 billion in 2013 revenue. NCSEA said that by revenue, solar energy is the biggest business sector in North Carolina accounting for $1.1 billion in revenue last year. By employment, smart grid is the biggest sector in the state employing 4,177 workers.

Nationwide, the U.S. solar industry employed 142,698 workers in 2013 representing a nearly 20 percent increase compared to 2012, according to the Solar Census. The addition of almost 24,000 solar workers since Census 2012 translates to an average of 56 workers added each day, the Solar Foundation said.

The Solar Foundation started tracking U.S. solar employment in 2010. Since then, the industry has grown 53 percent, adding nearly 50,000 new jobs.

California, Arizona, New Jersey and Massachusetts are the biggest states for solar work, accounting for nearly half the U.S. jobs in the industry. California is the overall leader with 47,233 jobs in 2013. In terms of installed solar capacity, North Carolina ranks fifth among the states.

North Carolina has 137 total solar companies, according to the census. Despite the solar industry’s progress in the Tar Heel state, the Solar Foundation gives North Carolina a grade “D” for its net metering policy. Net metering is policy governing the rates that utilities pay to owners of solar energy systems for electricity generated by their solar panels. Duke Energy has asked regulators to reduce the rates it must pay for such power, which solar companies say would hurt their business.