Nearly 79k clean energy jobs announced in 2013

March 12, 2014 | By

More than 78,600 clean energy and clean transportation jobs were announced in 2013, at 260 projects with solar power generation driving more than 21,600 jobs in the sector, according to Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2).

Following solar as the top job generator, other strong sectors proved to be building efficiency and public transportation. California's sector topped the list of states with roughly 15,400 jobs. Rounding out the top 10 states for the year were Texas, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, New York and Missouri.

In the fourth quarter alone, E2 tracked more than 70 projects nationwide that could create 13,000 jobs. Spikes in wind manufacturing and solar manufacturing added to the national quarterly total. Texas was the top state in the quarter, with as many as 3,200 jobs coming from eight projects, most of them wind related. The top 10 states in order for Q4 were Texas, Arizona, New York, California, Iowa, Rhode Island, Hawaii, North Dakota and New Mexico.

"Our report makes it clear. When we invest in clean energy and clean transportation, we put people to work in every corner of the country," said E2 Executive Director Judith Albert. "Whether it's a new wind farm in Iowa, an energy efficiency retrofit in Massachusetts, or a utility-scale solar array in Nevada, these projects require American ingenuity and labor. The sector is helping stimulate our economy."

There is still a need for long-term policies that can stimulate private investment in clean energy and energy efficiency in order to create jobs in the sector, save consumers money, and help the environment. Clean energy jobs could benefit from the rollout of limits on carbon emissions from power plants.

Looking ahead, clean energy and clean transportation job growth could see an uptick in 2014 if Congress reinstates tax policies such as the wind industry production tax credit and several energy efficiency tax incentives, which expired at the end of 2013.

For more:
- see this report

 

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