South Carolina’s solar industry is poised for significant growth with a $19 billion economic impact by 2035, leveraging legislation to create jobs with workforce training and diverse land use to drive sustainable energy development.

The future of solar energy in South Carolina is glowing with potential, as highlighted in The Economic Impact of the Solar Industry in South Carolina. This report, prepared by Dr. Joseph C. Von Nessen of the University of South Carolina, offers a compelling look at how the state’s solar industry is poised to deliver profound economic benefits while helping meet rising energy demands.

By 2035, the solar sector is projected to quadruple its current annual economic impact, injecting up to $19 billion into the state’s economy over the next decade. This growth in the solar sector will create more than 3,000 jobs and stimulate South Carolina’s economy while utilizing a maximum of 1.4 percent of agricultural land, allowing the state to position itself as a leader in solar development.

The Palmetto State has every reason to embrace a bright, sustainable energy future, but a lot has to happen for South Carolina to take advantage of this potential. 

Is South Carolina ready for solar growth?

Legislative and utility program opportunities exist. Is the workforce ready? What about other land options besides agricultural land? 

Legislation and Utility Programs

House legislation has been pre-filed to help move things forward. It is now up to legislators to ensure that renewables legislation will continue accelerating solar generation in South Carolina. 

In addition to legislation, utility programs can be an opportunity or a roadblock for solar growth. Programs such as Duke Energy’s PowerPair, being piloted in North Carolina, can boost the opportunity to generate electricity from solar. Residents, public entities, businesses, and industry would all benefit from this opportunity. These programs need to be opened up to provide this opportunity to make these entities resilient. 

Workforce

With this growth comes a need for more people in the solar industry to install, sell, and fulfill management and administrative roles at solar companies. Is South Carolina ready? Are the technical colleges and universities providing solar workforce training? Are high schools educating on renewable energy? There are great programs at Coastal Carolina University, Lexington Richland 5, and Richland School District Two; and new programs like the one by Solar United National are also paving the way for the solar workforce. The South Carolina Energy Office is a great resource for energy workforce training.

Let’s learn from these programs, expand education, and grow the solar workforce so South Carolina is ready for the demand.  

It’s not just agricultural land 

This new report acknowledges that 1.4% of agricultural land is a conservative estimate, which is correct. In addition to agricultural land, solar can also be installed on the roofs of homes, multifamily buildings, communities, churches, commercial buildings, land adjacent to churches, warehouses/distribution centers, roofs of industrial facilities, land adjacent to industrial facilities, military bases, healthcare facilities, etc. 

South Carolina’s future is so bright we have to wear shades. Let’s harness this sun to generate electricity and usher in a bright future for the next generation.