Texas ranked sixth for solar jobs, first in potential

TEXAS – Texas ranks sixth in nation with 4,100 jobs in the solar industry, a 28 percent increase from 2012. Texas also ranks first in solar potential capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association.

"Falling solar prices combined with enormous solar resources will make Texas a huge solar market. With some smart policy, jobs in the solar industry could easily double or triple in the next three to five years," said David Dixon, CEO for Native Inc.

San Antonio and Austin account for about 85 percent of the state’s solar capacity.

CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipally owned utility, plans to have 400 megawatts of utility-scale solar constructed by 2017. That is projected to power about 10 percent of San Antonio area homes.

In 2014 Texas will see two private solar projects come online, one in Pecos County and one near Lubbock.