A national group has named Vermont as the leading state for the number of solar jobs per capita.
The Solar Foundation, a Washington, D.C. based nonprofit, released its annual solar jobs census Tuesday and named Vermont as the leading state for solar jobs in 2013.
According to the foundation, Vermont has 1,300 solar jobs, up from just over 300 last year. The state is 27th overall in the total number of solar jobs.
Environmentalists and political leaders applauded the announcement.
Gov. Peter Shumlin said in a statement that the news “is a testament to the success of our renewable energy businesses, our forward-thinking utilities, and our innovative state policies.”
In an effort to bring more solar investment to the state, Shumlin announced a solar test center in Williston last year.
Vermont’s high per-capita ranking beats out every other state. But California remains the nation’s leading creator of solar jobs. From 2012 to 2013, California added 3,523 solar jobs, bringing its total to 47,223.
