Which states have the most clean energy jobs?

March 6, 2014 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

There were more than 3.5 million job postings in the U.S. clean energy sector last year -- up 19 percent from 2012 -- according to Ecotech Institute, which categorizes clean energy jobs as part of a business that benefits the environment or conserves natural resources, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics description. The report looks at various sustainability factors such as alternative fueling stations and total energy consumption, and was created using data from independent research entities including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, U.S. Energy Information Administration, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

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In 2013, solar jobs were up 57 percent, wind jobs were up 20 percent and renewable energy jobs were up 9.3 percent from 2012, according to the report.

The state with the largest number of clean energy jobs available was California, with 276,493, followed very closely by Texas, with 268,349. The third highest state is New York, with 190,964, followed by Illinois (168,998), Michigan (143,319), Ohio (129,447), Pennsylvania (126,012), Massachusetts (115,748), Florida (115,066), and Washington (98,252) rounding out the top 10.

Some of the states with the most incentives for sustainability and renewables include Texas, Oregon, Florida, Minnesota, Iowa, New York and Indiana.

"Renewable energy is the future and this data proves that more than ever," said Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute's program chair and manager of Environmental Operations. "With solar jobs up 54 percent and clean tech jobs up overall nearly 20 percent, it's definitely an exciting time in the sustainable energy industry."

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