Federal investments, statewide initiatives, and expanded capacity and demand in Chicagoland have prompted investment in the region’s solar industry. Specifically, the establishment of Cook County Solar Synergy — initially funded through a $1.1 million grant awarded to Cook County through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office’s Advancing Equity through Workforce Partnerships program — intends to serve the region as a knowledge hub for solar industry stakeholders to advance an inclusive workforce and small business ecosystem.

The Research Center at World Business Chicago and the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED) partnered through the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership to author this landscape assessment of the solar installation industry in Chicagoland, including its current state and projected growth. We identify local demand for talent, as well as risks and opportunities for recruiting or skilling workers.

Read the full report here.

Authors and Collaborators:

World Business Chicago Research Center

• Hannah Loftus – Vice President, Research
• Alexandra Oleksiuk Nowak – Director, Regional Research
• Kali Aloisi – Director, Regional Research
• Bridget Harney – Senior Manager, Regional Research

Cook County Bureau of Economic Development

• Christine Nappo – Director, Sector Strategies
• Dustin Calliari – Senior Program Manager
• Tea Sefer – Senior Program Manager
• Mena Prince – Applied Data Fellow
• Valeria Lira-Ruelas – Applied Data Fellow