Accidents involving wind turbines alone have tripled in the last decade, and watchdog groups fear incidents could skyrocket further placing more workers and even bystanders in harm's way because a surge in projects requires hiring hordes of new and often inexperienced workers. Last year, the solar industry grew 67% and doubled its employment in the U.S. to 100,000 workers, according to the Solar Energy Industries Assn. The concerns have a particular resonance in California, home to many of the nation's largest solar and wind projects. Many wind turbine technicians work in a bathroom-size space 20 stories above ground surrounded by high-voltage electrical equipment. Wind turbine accidents involving injuries and equipment damage have surged over the last decade, peaking in 2008 with 128 incidents worldwide, according to the Caithness Wind farm Information Forum.



Since the 1970s, there have been 78 fatalities, with about half in the U.S. The number of solar incidents is harder to gauge, but most industry workers say it's rising. In April 2010, Hans Petersen was taking a break from graduate theology studies and had been installing solar panels for six months when he stumbled off the sloped roof at a Northern California public housing complex and plunged 45 feet to his death. Fires atop wind towers have scattered burning debris, according to neighbors, who also describe hastily built wind installations collapsing within months and harsh weather conditions exacerbating wear and tear. watchdog groups say a hodgepodge of state and federal renewable energy safety standards haven't kept up with the growth of the industry. Some were adapted from other industries and don't specifically cover wind and solar projects, while others are guidelines rather than mandatory regulations.

This year, the American wind Energy Assn. launched a program to collect safety data for the industry. It also has online advisories that include warnings about working in high winds, requirements for fall protection above six feet and recommendations for frequent crane inspections and lightning safety plans. The solar industry trade group said it is working on its own set of best practices. technicians there operate a torture chamber for solar panels, testing the technology's endurance by trying to destroy it. The wind industry is also curtailing "shoddy" practices such as leaving fences open around high-voltage equipment and driving trucks at high speeds through installation sites, said Fraser McLachlan, chief executive of renewable energy underwriter GCube Insurance Services Inc.

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