Positive Energy Solar projects staffing increase due to rise in renewable energy demand

Positive Energy Solar projects staffing increase due to rise in renewable energy demand

Renewable energy use is on the rise, and with that comes more jobs.

Positive Energy Solar, a solar panel installation company with offices in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, is one that stands to benefit. It is hiring for multiple positions currently, from solar installers to project management positions.

Christopher Fortson, marketing director at Positive Energy Solar, said the company projects to increase the number of its employees by 20% between now and next year. The increase is needed to keep up with the rising popularity of renewable energy. The solar company currently has 93 employees,

Fortson said a shift toward renewable energy began before the pandemic. But as more people started to work from home, they had more time to think about making a switch to solar energy.

“We were seeing a shift in energy use from being at the business to being home and we expect that coming out of COVID there will continue to be this hybrid model of some remote work," he said. "Which means that some of that will continue to shift that energy usage set in home.”

Data show employment in the solar energy field is projected to increase by nearly 51% by 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. That projection shows up locally as a company like Affordable Solar prepares to add 70 jobs over the next five years.

Couple that with state and federal tax credits for solar energy purchases – which helps people pay back a portion of the cost of switching – and you can see why it is increasing.

“The federal tax credit being extended certainly does help, because it helps somebody who is looking at getting solar to cover some of those costs,” Fortson said. “The renewal of that and then also with that the bringing back of the state tax credit – both of those basically just continue to help.”

The increase in solar energy has been noted by Positive Energy Solar. In 2019, the company had a total revenue of about $17 million. That put the company third in revenue, according toAlbuquerque Business First’s list of renewable energy companies. Fortson says by the end of 2021, the company is projecting revenue to be at or around $26 million.

That has to do with new, bigger solar installation projects. Currently, Positive Energy Solar has 18 projects with the New Mexico General Services Department, a state entity, and 16 projects with the New Mexico Gas Company. Recently, Positive Energy Solar finished up a project in Santa Fe on a 1.6-megawatt carport next to a Rail Runner stop.

While Positive Energy Solar continues to grow and land big contracts, Fortson said the company is focused on “sustainable growth.” The company wants to hire full-time employees, and Fortson said it's possible to find those hires locally because of the talent pool here in the solar energy field.

There are also options to recruit potential employees from out of state. Positive Energy Solar is part of Amicus Solar, a cooperative for solar energy companies that offers benefits such as the ability for companies to pool supply purchases and find candidates from other states or regions.

“Sometimes we will kind of help each other out if someone has an employee that is moving to another state,” Fortson said of the cooperative. “They'll reach out and say, ‘hey, this person who worked for us, they're looking for employment. Would you be willing to employ them?’

"We have done that, and we've brought on people from other solar companies in other states, but a lot of it is local talent pool.”