In August 2024, Cornell University and the Texas Climate Jobs Project published a report examining working conditions in the Texas clean energy sector. Data collection methods included a survey of more than 1,200 workers and in-depth interviews of workers across the state's wind, solar and clean energy manufacturing sectors.

One in four workers surveyed across these sectors experienced a work-related injury, and nearly one in two workers suffered heat-related illnesses. Nearly one in 20 solar installers in Texas has seen someone die on the job. The research also revealed substantial wage and benefit disparities, with workers of colour, women, and workers that chose to fill out surveys in Spanish earning the least. Respondents who answered the survey in Spanish rather than English were also much less likely to report benefits like health insurance and workers’ compensation, or to get breaks on the job. Additionally, 70% of respondents reported a lack of access to workers’ compensation insurance, 71% reported a lack of access to retirement benefits, and nearly half (47%) lacked health insurance.

The report's authors call for greater transparency from companies receiving tax credits for clean energy projects under the Inflation Reduction Act, and for workers to have a greater say in Texas's clean energy transition, including through enforcement of labour agreements that protect workers' rights. They also highlight that Texas is the only US state where employers are not required to cover medical costs for injuries on the job. Given the prevalence of heat related illnesses among workers surveyed, the report also urges faster implementation of federal heat safety standards to protect outdoor workers.