Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy

With more than 100 significant solar energy businesses already established in Arizona, building a robust industry that ranges from rooftop panel makers to major power generators, the state has become a preeminent location for the renewable energy industry.

#3 IN U.S. SOLAR EMPLOYMENT

In 2014 the the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), in partnership with The Solar Foundation, ranked Arizona #3 nationwide in solar employment, with an estimated 9,200 jobs employed at 396 solar companies. In fact, Arizona accounts for approximately 4.5% of the nation’s total employment in the solar industry and consistently ranks as a top state for photovoltaic energy generation.

SEIA also reports that Arizona has the second most installed solar electrical watts per capita and the second-highest solar energy capacity in the United States, with enough solar energy installed in the state to power 304,000 homes.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUCCESS STORIES

Leading renewable energy companies doing business in Arizona include:

Abengoa Solar, builder of the nation’s first large-scale solar plant which can store the energy it generates for later use, employing 85 people in Gila Bend.

APS, recognized among the top 5 solar utilities in the nation and boasts Solana Generating Station as a premier addition to their solar portfolio. Solana is one of the world's largest solar plants.

First Solar, headquartered in Tempe with 280 employees. Its Agua Caliente Project in Yuma powers 100,000 homes.

GSS Solar Steel with 80 employees at its Surprise facility, which produces parts for solar power plants.

Kyocera Solar, a vertically-integrated producer and supplier of solar energy panels with 80 employees at its Scottsdale headquarters.

Rioglass Solar, a Spanish company with 80 employees at its U.S. headquarters in Surprise, manufacturing tempered-glass reflectors.

Schletter Inc., located in Tucson with 80 employees manufacturing ground-mounted systems.

Stealth Solar, currently the state's third-largest residential solar installer, with 48 employees headquartered in Phoenix.

Sun Valley Solar Solutions, based in Chandler, installed the 6th most photovoltaic capacity in 2012 for residential and commercial customers across Arizona with 70 employees.

UNS Energy Corp, with 300 employees at its Tucson headquarters, providing energy to more than 630,000 customers statewide.