LOOKING FOR A JOB? Try the Clean Energy Economy
"The clean energy economy is poised for explosive growth" according to a recent report by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Between 1998 and 2007, the number of American jobs in the clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than traditional jobs. This outperformance of clean energy job growth over traditional jobs held true at both the national level, and also at the state level.
By 2007, nationwide, clean energy jobs comprised about 770,000 jobs in more than 68,200 businesses.
These emerging clean energy jobs were dwarfed by those in the fossil-fuel industry—including utilities, coal mining, oil and gas extraction—which employed about 1.27 million workers in 2007. However, between 1998 and 2007, the government gave very little support to the emerging clean energy economy, while heavily subsidizing the fossil fuel industry—over $39 billion in 2006 for oil, and another $8 billion in 2006 for coal.
Researchers defined a clean energy economy as creating “jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources.”
This steep growth in a clean energy economy will continue to be driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital investments, and federal and state policy reforms. In 2008 alone, $5.9 billion of private monies was invested into American clean energy businesses, a 48 percent increase over 2007 investment totals.
Federal and state level policies include the close-to $85 billion in Federal economic stimulus funds (in spending and tax breaks) for energy and transportation sector programs. In addition, states offer tax incentives for residents and businesses for energy efficiency, renewable energy equipment, and many states require that a minimum percentage of power generation come from renewable energy—what’s known as a renewable portfolio standard (RPS).
American consumers, workers, investors, businesses, and government can all agree on the benefits of the clean-energy economy—job creation, economic and public health, energy independence, and environmental sustainability.
Between 1998 and 2007, the number of American jobs in the clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than traditional jobs. This outperformance of clean energy job growth over traditional jobs held true at both the national level, and also at the state level.
By 2007, nationwide, clean energy jobs comprised about 770,000 jobs in more than 68,200 businesses.
These emerging clean energy jobs were dwarfed by those in the fossil-fuel industry—including utilities, coal mining, oil and gas extraction—which employed about 1.27 million workers in 2007. However, between 1998 and 2007, the government gave very little support to the emerging clean energy economy, while heavily subsidizing the fossil fuel industry—over $39 billion in 2006 for oil, and another $8 billion in 2006 for coal.
Researchers defined a clean energy economy as creating “jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources.”
This steep growth in a clean energy economy will continue to be driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital investments, and federal and state policy reforms. In 2008 alone, $5.9 billion of private monies was invested into American clean energy businesses, a 48 percent increase over 2007 investment totals.
Federal and state level policies include the close-to $85 billion in Federal economic stimulus funds (in spending and tax breaks) for energy and transportation sector programs. In addition, states offer tax incentives for residents and businesses for energy efficiency, renewable energy equipment, and many states require that a minimum percentage of power generation come from renewable energy—what’s known as a renewable portfolio standard (RPS).
American consumers, workers, investors, businesses, and government can all agree on the benefits of the clean-energy economy—job creation, economic and public health, energy independence, and environmental sustainability.
Comment
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Comment by Mark McKennon on August 12, 2009 at 7:48am
- We'll need to create, maintain and if necessary, demand, a saner and more well-informed dialogue for alternative energy and climate change than that currently engulfing health care costs. It's baffling and infuriating that a large percentage of people can be persuaded to act so energetically against their own interests, especially when presented with a mountain of objective evidence that refutes their positions. I fully expect the Big Energy status quo to be at least as adamant and irresponsible in spreading propaganda, even if that means forestalling policy changes that could save millions of people from torment and death.
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Comment by Mighty Green Bee on July 6, 2009 at 2:42pm - Hal, what a great idea! Let me put my thinking cap on and see if we can start posting some opportunities for jobs & other cost-saving, green making. Of course, if anyone has those resources too, please feel free to share..
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Comment by Hal Hurst on June 30, 2009 at 12:44pm - The title led me to hope to find leads to green jobs here. Now wouldn't that be a great thing to promote? I'd like to see a lot of entry points into a greener lifestyle, one in which a person can make a living. Only then will a green economy flourish. Right now, what are some of the LOCAL opportunities to go green for greenbacks? Inquiring minds...
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Comment by Ruth Zemek on June 30, 2009 at 10:33am
- We must convince the president and Congress that clean, renewable energy is the only way to stop global warming. We must overcome the coal and oil interests now. This is the most urgent task for all citizens.
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