E2: Clean energy driving economic recoveryNew research from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) reports that 300 clean energy and clean transportation projects announced in 2012 are expected to create 110,000 jobs. In 2012, clean energy projects created jobs across the country with California, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Connecticut, Arizona, New York, Michigan, Texas and Oregon in the top 10. In the Southeast, more than 13,700 jobs were announced last year, accounting for about 80 percent of the national total, led by solar, advanced vehicles and wind energy. Nationally, clean power generation, manufacturing and energy-efficiency projects led much of the growth. State policies including Renewable Portfolio Standards have done a lot to drive growth in the clean energy industry. "It's now crystal clear that clean energy and clean transportation are helping our economy recover," said Judith Albert, executive director of E2, a nationwide network of business leaders who advocate for policies that benefit both the economy and the environment. "The projects and job announcements like we saw in 2012 can continue - as long as we don't let smart energy policies get hijacked by special interests." Although power generation led much of the job growth in 2012, the number of power generation jobs actually fell by about 2,400 in the fourth quarter of 2012. In the wind industry, job announcements fell by more than 60 percent in the fourth quarter due, in part, to delays in extending the Production Tax Credit. "Smart policies and regulatory certainty -- at both the federal and state levels --drive economic growth," Albert said. "If 2012 taught us anything, it's that if America wants to keep creating good, clean energy jobs, we need good, clean energy policies…If lawmakers care about creating good, clean energy jobs in their neighborhoods, they should continue supporting those policies. If not, they can sit back and watch these good-paying jobs go elsewhere." For more: Related Articles:
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