A report ranked Wisconsin fifth in U.S. states in terms of creating jobs connected to installing solar power components, according to published reports.

The National Solar Jobs Census pegged the Upper Midwest state with being a leader in the region, establishing solar power as a stronghold in the state, being a source of job creation in the years to come. The report was compiled with assistance from the Solar Foundation and Green LMI Consulting. Cornell University of Ithaca, New York contributed technical assistance.

"At a time when many companies and whole sectors were slowing down, this report shows that the solar industries really came off the bench to deliver a slam dunk for our economy and our environment,” Scott Thompson of Wisconsin Environment told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Only trailing California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan, Wisconsin hosts 2,885 jobs with installers of solar panels. The figures also pertain to wholesalers and manufacturers. The report predicted nine percent job growth for Wisconsin's solar industry in 2011, equaling about 250 additional jobs.

"This growth was made possible by leadership and hard work of Wisconsin officials," Thompson said. "We look forward to working with our elected officials to make solar a centerpiece of our state's energy policy and to accelerate the environmental and economic benefits Wisconsin gets from solar."