More than 38,600 clean energy and clean transportation jobs connected to at least 58 projects were announced in the second quarter of this year. That was slightly higher than the 37,400 clean energy jobs that report author E2 tracked in the comparable quarter a year ago. Power-generation projects from solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable energy sources will create more than 13,300 jobs if the announcements made hold true—more jobs than any other sector tracked by E2 this quarter. About 9,600 public transportation jobs were announced, while major smart grid and electricity-transmission upgrade projects are projected to create more than 8,200 additional jobs. Energy efficiency also posted strong numbers with more than 5,700 jobs announced. Polices such as President Obama’s climate change initiative, announced in June of this year, along with the recent extension of renewable energy standards in some states, promise to keep the momentum going.
Clean energy and clean transportation jobs were announced in at least 27 states in the second quarter of this year. For the first time, Kansas and Missouri each made the top-10 list of states to announce clean energy projects in the second quarter of 2013, thanks in large part to the Clean Line Energy Partners LLC announcement of the “Grain Belt Express Clean Line” transmission-upgrade project (see table 1). The project will transmit more than 3,500 MW of wind energy from Kansas and Missouri east to other states. The $2 billion project is scheduled for completion by 2018. Clean Line Energy Partners estimates that the project could create 5,500 jobs to plan, construct, and manage the new line.1 Also for the first time, both Hawaii and Alaska ranked in the top-10 states to announce clean energy projects in the second quarter of 2013. California led the way in quarterly announcements with 12 wind, solar, biofuels, and transportation projects that could cumulatively create more than 9,000 jobs. The full report here:
http://cleanenergyworksforus.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CleanEnergyWorksForUS.Q2.2013.pdf
Environment Entrepreneurs
www.E2.org
Filed Under: Construction, News, Policy
