Clean Energy Projects Spawning Jobs


Author: Bill Opalka
Location: New York
Date: 2012-08-17

Clean energy projects were announced in 30 states in the second quarter with the potential of creating more than 37,000 jobs, according to a new report.

The latest quarterly Clean Energy Jobs Roundup from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a national group of environmental business leaders, said as many as 37,409 jobs could be created from the more than 70 major clean energy projects announced across the United States from April through June.
Nearly one-third of the announcements were in Midwest states, including Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.

The report also shows that the potential end of the production tax credit (PTC) already is putting a damper on the growth in the wind industry.

In the second quarter, E2 tracked 12 wind generation project announcements that are poised to create about 2,300 jobs.

In the first quarter of this year, E2 tracked 31 wind power generation project announcements that would create more than 9,100 jobs.

"The good news is that despite the challenging economic and political environment, the clean energy industry is still creating badly needed American jobs all across the country,” said Judith Albert, executive director of Environmental Entrepreneurs.

On the generation side, solar power projects led the way in job announcements this cycle. “The robust pace of U.S. solar installations continued into the second quarter of 2012 with new installations up more than 85% from the same period in 2011,” the report said.

This past quarter, 19 solar generation projects were announced, adding up to 2,483 jobs in 13 states, including Utah, Arizona, California, and Ohio.
According to the E2 report, the top 10 clean energy job states in the second quarter were:

1. California (16 projects announced with 20,879 possible jobs).
2. Florida (3 projects announced with 7,375 possible jobs).
3. New York (3 projects announced with 1,408 possible jobs).
4. Michigan (9 projects announced with 1,319 possible jobs).
5. Colorado (2 projects announced with 1,100 possible jobs).
6. Ohio (4 projects announced with 712 possible jobs).
7. New Jersey (2 projects announced with 600 possible jobs).
8. Illinois (4 projects announced with 542 possible jobs).
9. Nebraska (1 project announced with 500 possible jobs).
10. Mississippi (1 project announced with 426 possible jobs).

Also, according to the report:

* Clean energy projects were announced in 30 states in the second quarter.
* Clean energy projects cross over party lines. A total of 35 clean energy projects were announced in Democratic districts and 31 in Republican districts. Nine projects spanned districts represented by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
* Public transportation, electric vehicle manufacturing and power generation announcements led the clean energy sector for job growth.

 

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