Janelle Irwin Taylor
The 2025 Session may not finish on time as House and Senate lawmakers grapple over budget details, including how best to cut taxes to help Floridians save money amid an ongoing affordability crisis.
But as legislators finish their work, leaders in the solar energy industry are pointing to another way consumers can save: investing in solar.
“Rooftop solar isn’t just about clean energy — it’s about putting money back into the pockets of Florida families,” Solar Source Director of Operations Jake Traverso said. “By cutting utility bills and stabilizing rates, solar empowers residents to invest in their homes and communities rather than face ever‑rising energy costs.”
Rooftop solar, for those who have it, can save consumers by harnessing the sun’s energy. But widespread implementation also has other cost-saving benefits, including by reducing the need for new power plants and decreasing the strain on existing energy grid infrastructure, things that ultimately lower energy costs for all Floridians.
The industry is also becoming a major job creator in a state nicknamed for its abundant sunshine. The industry already supports more than 40,000 jobs statewide and is continuing to expand, which offers additional economic opportunity for the Sunshine State.
According to the Solar Foundation, each megawatt of residential solar installed creates nearly 39 jobs.
Data from 2023 underscores how increasing energy demand, with more than 1,000 new residents added to the state daily, is driving solar as a sustainable energy solution while also fostering economic resilience both statewide and locally. That year, Florida outpaced all other new solar installations.
“Every megawatt of rooftop solar installed delivers more than just power — it sparks local economic growth and supports small businesses, creating good paying jobs and fueling innovation across our state,” said Chris Castro, Founding Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Climate First Bank. “When we invest in rooftop solar, we’re building both a stronger grid and a stronger economy for all Floridians.”
While Floridians can save on energy costs by using solar — or by enjoying from ancillary benefits related to other people using it — the industry is also creating high-wage jobs. The average salary in the solar industry is nearly $100,000, according to Salary.com. The site estimates that most professionals in the industry earn between $88,000 and $114,000.
