The exact number of jobs created specifically in rural areas by solar energy projects is not directly stated in the available data. However, several insights from recent reports allow an informed understanding:
- The U.S. solar industry employed 279,447 workers nationwide as of 2023, with 15,564 jobs added that year across all solar segments, including residential, commercial, community solar, and utility-scale projects.
- Utility-scale solar, which often involves large solar farms typically located in rural areas, grew by 6.8% in 2023, adding 1,888 jobs and reaching nearly 29,708 jobs nationwide. This segment’s growth is significant for rural employment since utility-scale projects are commonly sited in rural counties due to space and land availability.
- Clean energy jobs in rural counties are substantial: in 2019, clean energy jobs outnumbered fossil fuel jobs by 1.5 times in rural America. Specifically, the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors employed 260,853 workers across all rural counties, exceeding fossil fuel jobs of 235,618 in those areas. Among clean energy jobs, solar energy is a major contributor.
- Certain rural counties show high concentrations of solar jobs, with examples including Pulaski County, IL, and Surry County, VA, where utility-scale solar developments have driven job growth.
In summary, while a precise figure for solar-only jobs created strictly in rural areas is not given, the utility-scale solar segment alone supports nearly 30,000 jobs nationwide, with a considerable portion of these likely based in rural locations. Moreover, clean energy employment in rural counties exceeds fossil fuel jobs, indicating significant rural job creation from solar and other renewables combined. Thus, solar energy projects contribute thousands of jobs specifically in rural areas, particularly through utility-scale development and the broader clean energy sector.
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