Solar solutions series
This is Part 4 in a five-part multimedia feature examining Cornell's cutting-edge, interdisciplinary contributions to solar energy research as New York state works to achieve its goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Part 1: 'Crazy' perovskite offers sustainable alternative to silicon
Part 2: Bio-inspired approach creates bespoke photovoltaics
Part 3: Agrivoltaics offer array of options for farmland use
The solar boom in New York state is not only powering homes, businesses and infrastructure; it is also generating jobs. Researchers at the ILR School's Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) are helping to ensure the solar workforce is treated as fairly and equitably as employees in other industries.
"It's an emerging sector. It raises all sorts of questions around job quality," said Lara Skinner, CJI's executive director. "We were seeing a lot of angst from both workers and communities about the fossil fuel plants being shut down, and then wondering, 'What's on the other side, what do we transition to, and what do the job opportunities look like in that space? Are these going to be good jobs? Will they pay as well as other energy jobs? Are we going to have good benefits, and healthy and safe working conditions?'"
In April 2024, the institute issued its first report on the conditions faced by NYS's solar workforce, which found that the state's rapid solar expansion may have relied on overworked transient labor.
Among the key findings:
- Many solar workers live outside New York state, and even more (42.8%) reported working for multiple employers. The majority also reported that they had relocated in order to work on New York state solar worksites, complicating efforts to calculate the number of employees in the field;
- Nearly 60% of solar workers surveyed said they received no benefits;
- One-third of workers are paid per panel installed - a practice that could incentivize unsafe conditions in the pursuit of productivity;
- 53% of workers said abuse of stimulants was a problem on their worksites, to "stay awake" and maximize earnings;
- White workers paid an annual salary made nearly twice as much as their Black and Hispanic counterparts;
- White workers were also more likely to report longer tenure with their employers; and
- Black workers were most likely to indicate they had experienced wage theft while working on a New York state solar project, yet workers of color were least likely to formally report their wage theft.
