Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are seeking solar workers for 1-hour, one-on-one interviews to inform a study about the solar workforce. The study, titled Solar Workforce Analysis & Impacts on Installations, will provide the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) with context around different labor factors and how they might impact workforce wellbeing and photovoltaic industry growth.
Solar workers, solar developers and employers, industry organizations, labor organizations, and policymakers, are encouraged to participate. In particular, NREL encourages people with relevant knowledge and experience on solar installation, deployment, and worker wellbeing in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, and/or Texas to sign up.
The project team will use information gathered during these interviews to assess how the different socio-economic and political contexts in these states have:
- Impacted the pace and quality of solar deployment for projects of different sizes;
- Impacted local employment, career growth prospects, and job quality; and
- Responded to increased solar deployment.
How to Participate
The process of participating in this study will generally follow these steps:
- Prospective participants should complete an informed consent form.
- Once informed consent form is complete, schedule an interview.
- Selected participants will join a 1-hour solo or group interview with NREL staff. Interviews will be conducted in English-only, Spanish-only, or Spanish and English based on the participant’s preference.
- After the analyses and final report are complete, the NREL staff will send the final report to the interviewee for their records.
- The NREL team will present the findings of this report to the public and will send the interviewee a link to register and attend the presentation if interested.
Interviews will be held through July 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Sika.Gadzanku@nrel.gov.