Governor Patrick Visits Solarcity to Highlight Clean Energy Industry

Press Release

Governor Deval Patrick today celebrated the expansion of clean energy company SolarCity in Marlborough, where the company plans to add 25 jobs. The job growth is attributed to the Patrick-Murray Administration's investments in the clean energy economy including the Green Communities program.

"We have developed a nation-leading clean energy agenda because it is the right thing to do for our environment, our energy independence and our public health," said Governor Patrick. "The growth of private companies like SolarCity is a sign that our investment strategy in the clean energy industry is working."

SolarCity, a clean energy services company, expanded into Massachusetts in 2011. In less than a year, the company has tripled its workforce adding 33 employees to date and is adding 25 more positions at its new location. The Marlborough expansion more than doubles the company's warehouse square footage, combining the 6,000 square feet in facilities the company held in Billerica and Raynham.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's 2011 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report showed a 6.7 percent growth in Massachusetts clean energy jobs between July 2010 and July 2011, with companies projecting continued growth in the year ahead. The report found nearly 5,000 companies engaged in clean energy work and employing more than 64,000 clean energy workers.

"Massachusetts is home to clean energy companies specializing in technologies ranging from energy efficiency and energy storage to efficient lighting and biofuels and we're proud they've made Massachusetts home," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan. "The clean energy industry is growing and we're here today to celebrate it."

"Massachusetts has invested in the clean energy economy -- and that investment is paying off with jobs and lower energy costs," said SolarCity's Regional Director for Massachusetts Ed Steins. "We have tripled our local staff in less than a year and are hiring for more positions in Massachusetts right now."

With these latest designations, 42 percent of Massachusetts residents or 2.7 million people now live in Green Communities across the Commonwealth. All of the 86 Green Communities committed to reduce their municipal energy consumption by 20 percent. This commitment collectively equates to the annual energy consumption of more than 13,000 Massachusetts homes and the greenhouse gases from more than 16,800 cars.

Under the Global Warming Solutions Act, Massachusetts has set the strongest greenhouse gas reduction targets in the nation -- 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. The implementation of the state's Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 is estimated to create at least 42,000 jobs.

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