Jobs in the solar industry are skyrocketing, especially with energy companies, and key to that growth appears to be women.

  • Women to dominate solar industry
  • Women increase presence in field jobs
  • Solar generating site comes to Barefoot Bay

Florida Power and Light said they now have over a 1,000 jobs across the state working specifically in solar energy.

A large part of those jobs are in Brevard County, with women playing important roles in the growth of solar energy.

Kelley Fagan is just one of hundreds of women now dominating in the industry.

She’s worked in construction for over 20 years, but over the past 10 years has seen jobs for women skyrocket.

“Typically as an electrician, I started out digging ditches, running cables. I was usually the only woman on the crew, so it is so refreshing to see so many women coming out into the business, not only in construction but with solar and fuels,” Fagan, a construction manager, said.

Women are now tackling jobs anywhere from construction sites, to engineering, even managing teams out in the field.

“Everyone starts somewhere, it may be at the lowest point, but you keep advancing forward till you reach your goals,” said Connie Buchanan, a civil and mechanical superintendent at FPL's Barefoot Bay solar farm.

Just at the site in Barefoot Bay alone, they’ve created 150 jobs installing over 300,000 solar panels.

With women like Kelley and others in many of those jobs, it’s something she says is paving the way for future generations.

“I like to see Florida Power and Light getting into solar and improving the environment for our kids. I have a little girl of my own and I hope to see her one day out here managing a site just like this,” Fagan said.

Once completed, this solar site will provide energy to 15,000 homes.

You can expect to see solar energy generating from this site by early 2018.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career or scholarship opportunities with FPL, you can check out their website FPL.com/education